{"title":"Modeling on the Composition Spatial Distribution of Inclusions in Steel Continuous-Casting Blooms with Considering Element Segregation","authors":"Hao Yao, Yuexin Zhang, Chengjun Liu, Lifeng Zhang","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500826","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500826","url":null,"abstract":"<p>One of the most important key technologies to ensure a good-quality continuous-casting bloom is the accurate identification, prediction, and control of the composition of inclusions. In the current article, a comprehensive numerical model is established by integrating fluid flow, solidification, mass and heat transfer, and inclusion-related thermodynamics and kinetics to predict the evolution of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, CaO, SiO<sub>2</sub>, CaS, and MgO of inclusions depending on the location on the cross section and the length of the steel continuous-casting bloom. A key innovation of this study lies in the incorporation of element segregation into the kinetic calculation of inclusion composition: instead of assuming constant element content during solidification, the model dynamically computes inclusion evolution based on the spatial variation of elemental concentrations within the bloom. To validate the simulation, field emission scanning electron microscopy is employed to characterize inclusion distributions experimentally, showing good agreement with the model predictions. Both the calculation results and the measure results indicate the highest Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> mass fraction at the bloom center and a decreasing tendency toward the edge and an enriched accumulation of CaO approximately one-quarter of the bloom cross section with CaS content appearing diluted in locations rich in CaO.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1995-2011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jin Gao, Fengsheng Qi, Zhongqiu Liu, Sherman C. P. Cheung, Baokuan Li, Deqiang Li
{"title":"A Comprehensive Review on Flame Scarfing of Steel Slabs: Fundamentals, Challenges, Evolution, and Future","authors":"Jin Gao, Fengsheng Qi, Zhongqiu Liu, Sherman C. P. Cheung, Baokuan Li, Deqiang Li","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500409","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500409","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The growing demand for high-quality steel across industries has made improving steel slab surface quality a critical priority. Flame scarfing, a widely used method to remove surface defects, faces persistent challenges that limit its quality. This review synthesizes current research on advancing flame scarfing, highlighting key challenges, technological evolutions, and future directions. The defect removal mechanism in flame scarfing remains complex, with removed material composition not fully explored. Scarfing depth is affected by multiple factors, but insufficient knowledge of iron–oxygen reaction mechanisms and slag composition hinders accurate prediction models. Groove formation—driven by oxygen–fuel ratio and gas flow dynamics—degrades surface quality; numerical simulations show promise for suppression but need more quantitative analysis. Heat transfer impacts scarfing outcomes, yet existing heat source models lack precision. Technologically, flame scarfing has evolved through manual, mechanized, automated, and intelligent stages, with equipment refinements boosting stability and efficiency. Future research should clarify defect removal mechanisms, model iron–oxygen reactions accurately, suppress grooves, develop scarfing-specific heat source models, and accelerate equipment intelligentization. This review offers in-depth insights into flame scarfing, providing a theoretical basis for process optimization and guiding efforts to improve steel slab surface quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1771-1798"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kejiang Li, Haotian Liao, Jianliang Zhang, Xiangyu He, Feng Zhou, Alberto N. Conejo, Marco A. Ramírez-Argáez
{"title":"Machine Learning and Experimental Identification of Parameters for Discrete Element Method Simulations: Binary Mixtures of Pellets and Lump Ores","authors":"Kejiang Li, Haotian Liao, Jianliang Zhang, Xiangyu He, Feng Zhou, Alberto N. Conejo, Marco A. Ramírez-Argáez","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500714","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500714","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Increasing the proportion of lump ore in ironmaking reactors can contribute to enhancing economic efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Reliable discrete element method (DEM) simulations of such systems require accurate particle-shape representation and efficient calibration of input parameters. In this study, an integrated framework for DEM parameter calibration that combines experimental repose angle measurements, 3D scanning with multisphere modeling, and a genetic algorithm–optimized random forest (GARF) model is proposed. GARF is embedded in the calibration workflow to efficiently explore the high-dimensional parameter space and predict contact parameters with reduced computational demand. Experimental results are used as benchmarks to validate the calibrated parameters, and strong agreement is observed between GARF-assisted DEM simulations and measurements. The calibrated contact parameters provide a robust reference for simulating irregular particle mixtures, while the proposed GARF-based workflow enhances the efficiency and applicability of DEM parameter identification in ironmaking research.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1981-1994"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Junjie Wang, Haibing Hu, Feng Fang, Yuanxiang Zhang, Yang Wang, Zhenlei Li, Weixue Dou, Guo Yuan, Guodong Wang
{"title":"Influence of Al2O3 Content on the Performances of BN-Based Side Dams for Twin-Roll Strip Casting","authors":"Junjie Wang, Haibing Hu, Feng Fang, Yuanxiang Zhang, Yang Wang, Zhenlei Li, Weixue Dou, Guo Yuan, Guodong Wang","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500791","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500791","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Based on the study of BN-based side dams with varying Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> contents for twin-roll strip casting of silicon steel, it is demonstrated that increasing Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content enhances corrosion resistance to silicon steel while maintaining comparable thermal, mechanical, and wear properties. The corrosion depth of the side dams exhibits a positive correlation with the silicon content in the molten steel; specifically, an increase in silicon content from Si-free to 3.0 wt% results in an ≈80% increase in corrosion depth. Notably, side dams with higher Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content demonstrate superior corrosion resistance in silicon steel, showing a 24% enhancement when the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content is increased from 5 to 10 in 1.5 wt% silicon steel. Increasing Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content from 5 to 10 wt% elevates the wetting angle by 7.2%, reducing the spreading of molten steel on the surface of side dams, thereby enhancing corrosion resistance. Thermodynamic simulations indicate that increasing Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> content in side dams promotes protective slag formation, suppresses liquid phase generation, and enhances corrosion resistance during casting of silicon steel. This study provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing the composition of BN-based side dams to improve their performance in twin-roll strip casting of silicon steel.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1968-1980"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Solid Fuel Emissions of CO Pollutants in Iron Ore Sintering Process: Generation, Control, and Challenges","authors":"Zhengjian Liu, Sida Li, Jianliang Zhang, Yaozu Wang, Yushan Dai, Lele Niu, Zhen Li","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500677","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500677","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Substantial CO emissions in sintering flue gas exacerbate environmental impacts and fuel wastage, thereby impeding clean sintering initiatives. This article systematically reviews the generation mechanisms, influencing factors, and reduction technologies of CO emissions. First, CO emission characteristics in sintering flue gas are characterized through industrial surveys. Second, building on previous research results, kinetic calculations and validation experiments identify the two CO emission sources with causes: high-temperature (>1070 °C) and low-temperature preheating zones (600–900 °C). Third, the influencing factors of CO emissions are investigated from the perspectives of iron ore, flux, fuel, and pelletizing process. Finally, the research progress and future development direction of sintering CO emission reduction technologies are summarized. Future research prioritizes “high-O<sub>2</sub>, low-wind, low-reactivity” coordination and intelligent control for deep CO reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1831-1842"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
KG. Sivaselvaram, S. Sujay, V. Sanjay, Vaira Vignesh Ramalingam, M. Govindaraju, B. Arivazhagan
{"title":"Hard-Facing of Nuclear-Grade SS316LN Stainless Steel with FeCrNiMnV High-Entropy Alloy for Improved High-Temperature Wear and Molten Salt Corrosion Resistance","authors":"KG. Sivaselvaram, S. Sujay, V. Sanjay, Vaira Vignesh Ramalingam, M. Govindaraju, B. Arivazhagan","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500762","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500762","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The present work investigates the microstructure, texture, and microhardness evolution of FeCrNiMnV high-entropy alloy (HEA) as a weld overlay on SS316LN substrate. In the as-fabricated state, the HEA exhibits dendritic structures and localized agglomerates characteristic of rapid solidification, leading to moderate hardness (≈750 HV). Heat treatment at optimized conditions homogenizes the alloy, eliminates dendritic features, and enhances hardness to ≈1000 HV, whereas prolonged exposures induce secondary phase formation, agglomeration, and porosity, reducing hardness. Elemental distribution analysis reveales progressive diffusion-driven segregation, with vanadium- and chromium-rich clustering under extended treatments. Weld overlay of FeCrNiMnV on SS316LN produces a refined grain structure (≈8 μm) in the HEA with predominantly face-centered cubic phases and localized body-centered cubic regions, ensuring metallurgical compatibility. Microhardness across the interface shows a sharp transition from ≈225 HV in SS316LN to ≈1000 HV in HEA, attributed to grain refinement, lattice distortion, and solid solution strengthening. High-temperature tribological tests demonstrate load-dependent wear mechanisms, transitioning from adhesive and oxidative wear at lower loads to the formation of protective tribolayers at higher loads, significantly reducing wear rate and stabilizing friction. Molten salt corrosion studies further reveal time- and temperature-dependent degradation, with protective Fe–Cr oxides forming initially, followed by progressive cracking and spallation under prolonged exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1877-1894"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanjun Zhao, Deyang Lu, Yafei Liu, Xiangshan Huang, Yan Zhao, Nengwen Li, Yang Zeng
{"title":"Effect of Temperature on Diffusion Bonding for Austenite/dual Phase Stainless Steel: Experimental and First-Principles Calculations","authors":"Yanjun Zhao, Deyang Lu, Yafei Liu, Xiangshan Huang, Yan Zhao, Nengwen Li, Yang Zeng","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500454","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500454","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Joining austenitic (304) and duplex (S32304) stainless steels via diffusion bonding leverages their complementary properties but faces challenges in controlling interfacial element diffusion and stability. This study systematically investigates the temperature dependance (800–1200 °C) of microstructure evolution and mechanical properties in 304/S32304 diffusion-bonded joints, integrating experimental characterization with first-principles calculations. Key findings reveal that an optimal bonding temperature of 1100 °C yielded a maximum tensile strength of 720 MPa, approaching 95% of 304 base material strength. Microstructural analysis showed a significant transformation of 13% austenite to ferrite in S32304 and a remarkable increase in recrystallized grains from 3% to 94%. Crucially, first-principles calculations demonstrate that Mn diffusion played a dominant role in destabilizing interfacial Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> oxides, facilitating their transformation to Mn<sub><i>x</i></sub>O<sub><i>y</i></sub>, which aligns with experimental energy-dispersive spectroscopy observations. This Mn-induced oxide transformation, alongside enhanced elemental interdiffusion and void closure at elevated temperatures, governed the interfacial stability and joint performance. The integrated experimental-theoretical approach provided unprecedented atomic-scale insights into the diffusion mechanisms and interfacial oxide evolution, establishing a fundamental basis for optimizing diffusion bonding parameters of dissimilar stainless steels in demanding applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1949-1967"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research Status and Prospects of the Blast Furnace Raceway","authors":"Lizhou Yang, Xiaolei Zhou, Zehao Wu","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500973","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500973","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The research on the raceway of the blast furnace (BF) has always been an important part of optimizing the ironmaking process and reducing the carbon emissions of the BF. The study of the physical and chemical characteristics of the raceway is of great significance for optimizing the energy consumption and combustion conditions of the BF reactor. This article analyzes the relationship between research methods and research objects in the raceway. Many studies believe that the raceway is a typical characteristic area of the overall fluid-particle-fine powder reaction flow in the BF. The research methods have also evolved from the initial direct observation to model studies and then to simulation studies, different research approaches have their own research significance. With the development of BF injection technology, mathematical studies have gradually become the mainstream method for studying the physical and chemical characteristics of the raceway under complex operating conditions. By studying the impact of changes in one or more factors on actual production through the combination of different models, it provides a guarantee for the optimization of the BF reactor and is expected to be combined with emerging machine learning technologies in the future to provide real-time guidance for actual production.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1799-1812"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147684053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ziqiang Yuan, Yaohui Song, Yugui Li, Yibo Lu, Meitong Guo, Yuyang Jiang, Bin Wang
{"title":"Effects of Cold Rolling and Annealing on the Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of S44660 Super-Ferritic Stainless Steel","authors":"Ziqiang Yuan, Yaohui Song, Yugui Li, Yibo Lu, Meitong Guo, Yuyang Jiang, Bin Wang","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500709","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500709","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates the microstructural evolution of Nb–Ti stabilized super-ferritic stainless steel (SFSS) during cold rolling and annealing. The results demonstrate that annealing at 950 °C for 60 min refines the average grain size from 105 to 37.57 μm (a 54% reduction), with a slight decrease in tensile strength to 664 MPa and a significant 60% increase in elongation to 35.45%. Texture analysis reveals that annealing at 800 °C produces coexisting α and γ-fiber textures, with γ-fiber dominating. As the temperature rises to 950 °C, the γ-texture intensity slightly increases, accompanied by the emergence of an α*-fiber texture, primarily with a {111}<112> orientation. The effect of holding time shows that annealing at 950 °C for 60 min the α -texture strength increases, while suppressing α-fiber texture. Extending the holding time to 120 min leads to texture dispersion, forming a mixed distribution of weak γ-texture, α-fiber, and α*-fiber components. In summary, the 950 °C for 60 min annealing process achieves a synergistic balance between strength and ductility by strengthening γ-texture and refining grain structure. This work provides critical process parameters for optimizing the strength-ductility trade-off in SFSSs, confirming that annealing temperature and time can precisely control texture type and intensity distribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1919-1931"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diptak Bhattacharya, Tyson Brown, Louis Hector Jr, Anil Sachdev, DongJin Kim, Gyosung Kim, Jinkeun Oh, Seongwoo Kim
{"title":"A New Zinc-Coated Press-Hardened Steel with Reduced Liquid Metal Embrittlement","authors":"Diptak Bhattacharya, Tyson Brown, Louis Hector Jr, Anil Sachdev, DongJin Kim, Gyosung Kim, Jinkeun Oh, Seongwoo Kim","doi":"10.1002/srin.202500647","DOIUrl":"10.1002/srin.202500647","url":null,"abstract":"<p>New zinc-coated steels suitable for press hardening have been developed to address the persistent issue of liquid metal embrittlement (LME) and to offer galvanic corrosion resistance to press-hardened steel (PHS) substrates, not currently provided by the standard Al–Si-coated steels. The newly designed Zn-coated PHS alloys, containing 0.2–0.3 wt% C and elevated Mn levels (2–3 wt%), can be successfully press-hardened from temperatures as low as 760 °C. Forming below the Γ-peritectic temperature of the Fe–Zn system (782 °C) effectively suppresses LME by avoiding the presence of liquid Zn during deformation. Tensile testing of specimens extracted from hot-stamped hat sections confirms that the mechanical performance of these alloys, achieving ultimate tensile strength values in the range of 1450–1500 MPa, is comparable to that of standard 22MnB5 parts formed at 900 °C. Notably, Zn-induced LME macrocrack depths are reduced by 40–60% when forming is conducted at lower temperatures (≈780 °C). While small microcracks (≈10 μm) due to solid-state Zn diffusion are still observed, their severity can be mitigated through design modifications such as increased corner radii or further optimization of alloy chemistry to enable even lower stamping temperatures. These findings demonstrate a promising pathway for developing LME-resistant Zn-coated PHS materials without compromising mechanical strength.</p>","PeriodicalId":21929,"journal":{"name":"steel research international","volume":"97 4","pages":"1895-1909"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}