Blog - News & Insights - Shanghai Metallurgy Equipment Group

What Gases Are Usually Found in Steel? Their Sources and Harmful Effects

By Michael Chen
October 16, 2025
Steel Making
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In steelmaking, gases are among the most common non-metallic impurities. Although their quantities are very small, their impact on steel structure and properties can be significant. Generally, the main gases found in steel are hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N). These gases are introduced into molten steel during different stages of refining,…

Metal Forming Processes

Scientists have never stopped researching and exploring better metal forming processes, which can be easily applied, simple and efficient, and can ensure the performance requirements. As far as now, there are eight kinds of metal forming processes being commonly used for various purposes. 1. Casting Liquid metal is poured into…

What Are the Hazards of Copper in Steelmaking?

By Michael Chen
October 14, 2025
Steel Making
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In steelmaking, copper is an element that must be carefully controlled. Although copper itself is a valuable metal with excellent properties, excessive copper in steel can cause serious problems during high-temperature processing. At elevated temperatures, iron tends to oxidize preferentially, while copper—with its relatively low melting point of 1083°C—remains unoxidized…

A lot of stainless steel forks and knives

Universal Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is divided into: ferritic stainless steel, austenitic stainless steel, martensitic stainless steel, austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steel, precipitation hardening stainless steel (PH) according to the organizational structure characteristics. 300 series stainless steel are chromium-nickel austenitic. 301 SS is good ductility, good weldability, better wear resistance and fatigue strength than…

What Causes Hot Brittleness in Steel Billets Due to Tin?

By Michael Chen
October 9, 2025
Steel Making
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In modern steelmaking, controlling trace elements is essential for ensuring the quality of steel billets and the stability of subsequent rolling processes. Tin (Sn), a common impurity in scrap-based steel production, can severely reduce the hot ductility of steel when present in excessive amounts, leading to hot brittleness and cracking…

LOD refining in progress - Shanghai Metallurgy Equipment Group

What Are the Hazards of Lead and Zinc in Steelmaking and How to Remove Them?

By Michael Chen
September 25, 2025
Steel Making
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In modern steelmaking, the presence of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)—both heavier than iron—can cause serious challenges to refining operations and final steel quality. Understanding their harmful effects and applying effective removal techniques are essential for optimizing the steelmaking process. Hazards of Lead and Zinc in Steel Damage to steel…

Adding liquid iron to electric arc furnace - Shanghai Metallurgy Equipment Group

What Are the Favorable Conditions for Dephosphorization in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking?

By Michael Chen
September 23, 2025
Steel Making
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In EAF steelmaking, controlling the phosphorus content in molten steel is essential for ensuring product quality. Excess phosphorus reduces toughness and ductility, making effective dephosphorization a critical step in the process. The dephosphorization reaction mainly occurs through the interaction between phosphorus in steel and the oxidizing components of slag. Therefore, creating…

What Is the Role of Phosphorus in Steel?

By Michael Chen
September 19, 2025
Steel Making
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In steelmaking, phosphorus (P) is an important element that can have both harmful and beneficial effects. Understanding its role in steel is crucial for metallurgy and for ensuring the performance of different steel grades. Harmful Effects of Phosphorus in Steel For most types of steel, phosphorus is considered an undesirable…

What Are the Steps of Desulfurization in Electric Furnace Steelmaking?

By Michael Chen
September 16, 2025
Steel Making
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In steelmaking, sulfur significantly reduces the mechanical properties of steel, increasing brittleness and lowering ductility. Therefore, desulfurization in the electric arc furnace (EAF) is a critical process to ensure high-quality steel production. According to molecular theory, the desulfurization mechanism of basic reducing slag can be divided into the following steps:…

Billet continuous casting machine - cooling and flame cutting - SME Group

What Are the Negative Effects of Sulfur in Steel?

By Michael Chen
September 15, 2025
Steel Making
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In steelmaking, sulfur is considered one of the most harmful impurities. While sulfur can dissolve infinitely in liquid steel, its solubility in solid iron is extremely low, only about 0.015%–0.020%. During the solidification of molten steel, sulfur precipitates as FeS (iron sulfide), which further combines with iron to form a…