This master´s thesis deals with theoretical study of decarburization of austenitic steels. Mathematical model, which analyse numerical calculations, was compared with experiments. Obtained results were discussed considering validity of model and performed aproximations.

The carbonation of the building materials based on the ordinary Portland cement is relatively well-known and extensively studied phenomenon. Conversely mechanism, reaction products and factors affecting the carbonation of the alkali activated materials are still not sufficiently clarified. In this work, the progression of the carbonation of the alkali activated materials under different conditions was investigated. The reaction products and the microstructural changes were determined by XRD respectively SEM-EDX analysis. The corrosive conditions due to the decreasing of the pH of the binders by the carbonation were observed by XPS analysis of the steel fibers. The carbonation of the alkali activated samples was compared with the reference samples based on the Portland composite cement. Besides these analyzes, the mechanical properties of the binders were monitored.

This thesis is focused on the principles of behavior of shrinkage reducing agents (SRA) in alkali-activated materials based on blast furnace slag. The main focus of this work is selecting the most suitable admixture based on experiments, by which will be achieved through minimal shrinkage and will have negative effect on the properties of alkali-activated blast furnace slag at the same time. In experimental section of this work, the surface tension as individual additives as their mixtures with pore solution were measured primarily. Then the testing samples composed of blast furnace slag, water glass and addition of SRA were prepared. Of these samples was measured shrinkage and weight loss. Moreover, their mechanical properties such as flexural and compressive strength were monitored. Next, the beginning and the end of solidification was studied using the Vicat device and last but not least workability. The hydration process of alkali-activated materials with SRA was measured calorimetrically. Finally the microstructure in prepared samples was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and the total porosity was determined by mercury porosimeter.

Abstract In this thesis, different spectroscopic methods are used for studying metals. Electron spectroscopy is applied for the study of binding energy shifts between atomic vapor and solid metals. Photoionization and Auger decay of high temperature aluminum vapors are investigated. Ionization of atomic chromium metal vapor by light absorption is studied with synchrotron radiation and time-of-flight ion mass spectroscopy. Optical spectroscopy is used for studying light emission from electric arc furnace plasma in experimental apparatuses developed during this work. Experimental techniques and sample preparation methods are presented. / Original papers The original publications are not included in the electronic version of the dissertation. Huttula, M., Jänkälä, K., Mäkinen, A., Aksela, H., & Aksela, S. (2008). Core shell electron spectroscopy on high temperature vapors: 2s photoionization and Auger decay of atomic aluminium. New Journal of Physics, 10(1), 13009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/10/1/013009 Huttula, M., Partanen, L., Mäkinen, A., Kantia, T., Aksela, H., & Aksela, S. (2009). KLL Auger decay in free aluminum atoms. Physical Review A, 79(2). https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.79.023412 Aksela, S., Kantia, T., Patanen, M., Mäkinen, A., Urpelainen, S., & Aksela, H. (2012). Accurate free atom–solid binding energy shifts for Au and Ag. Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, 185(8–9), 273–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elspec.2012.05.007 Mäkinen, A., Patanen, M., Aksela, S., & Aksela, H. (2012). Atom-solid 3p level binding energy shift of transition metals Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni. Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, 185(12), 573–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elspec.2012.12.006 Mäkinen, A., Niskanen, J., & Aksela, H. (2012). Relative photoionization cross section of Cr atoms in the valence region. Physical Review A, 85(5). https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.85.053411 Mäkinen, A., Niskanen, J., Tikkala, H., & Aksela, H. (2013). Optical emission from a small scale model electric arc furnace in 250–600 nm region. Review of Scientific Instruments, 84(4), 43111. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4802833

A computerized Fast Fourier Transform system has been used to analyse vibration measurements sampled from a 100-ton electric arc furnace. It has been the hypothesis that patterns in the vibration data would correlate to specific events in the electric arc furnace during the melting process. The theory was that the vibration patterns would be most powerful in multiples of 50 Hz, as the electric arcs operate with a frequency of 50 Hz. It was concluded that the multiples of 50 Hz were dominant. Investigation was made regarding how the amount of scrap affects the amplitude in the vibrations after a defined amount of energy input. It was confirmed that the intensity of the vibrations decreased with increasing mass and basket volume. Another discovery was the M-shaped pattern at the beginning of the melting process. This pattern was statistically analysed. It was found that 71 % of the 41 charges showed an M-shaped correlation. The appearance of this M-shape was analysed regarding power usage, and steel-type. It was concluded that the steel type affected the appearance of the M-shape. The occurrence of flat-bath was also investigated. The theory was that the vibration data would be fairly constant with the occurrence of flat-bath. It was discovered that the vibration data experienced a somewhat constant behaviour towards the end of the melting process in approximately 57 % of the 41 charges. Difficulties were encountered regarding detection of patterns, and correlating them to specific conditions, due to the many parameters that affect the vibration measurements from charge to charge. It was concluded that vibration analysis are unlikely to be used as an absolute way to foresee every event in the electric arc furnace during each charge. But can rather serve as a statistical tool, upon which decisions of how the melting process should be conducted could be based on.

To stay competitive in the steel industry, steelmakers are utilizing different production methods to reduce production cost without compromising on the quality of their products. In steelmaking, the production process plays a significant role on the steel cleanliness. Recent increasing demands on the cleanliness level therefore require optimization of production process to meet the requirement. Often, the types and distribution of non-metallic inclusions in steel determines the steel cleanliness. In order to optimize the production process, complete assessment of the non-metallic inclusions in the steel is necessary, leading to implementation of measures to control and/or remove non-metallic inclusions in the steel. The present study was performed to investigate the cleanliness level of steel bars produced from a high frequency induction furnace (HF) route at Uddeholms AB. Experimental studies were carried out and characteristics such as number, composition, size distribution and morphology of non-metallic inclusions were investigated. Total oxygen and total nitrogen content were also measured for indirect assessment. Further, the production operations at the HF were observed and evaluated to determine their influence on the inclusion characteristics. The characteristics obtained were compared with characteristics of inclusions in steel bars produced from an electric arc furnace production (EAF) route at Uddeholms AB and a competitor producer sample. The results showed that the level of cleanliness varies from different production routes and is hence dependent on the process at each production route. The number, maximum and mean size of inclusions were found to be higher in the HF route compared to the other routes. More so, there were differences in the types of oxide inclusions observed from each process route. However, sulphide inclusions exhibit similar characteristics from the different process routes. Further, the compositions of oxide inclusions observed from the HF route were found to be closely related to the steel chemistry. More importantly, the types of inclusions formed in the HF route were found to be sensitively affected by the extent of aluminium and calcium contents in the steel. Thus, the oxide inclusion types in the HF samples could be traced to the extent of different additions and operations such as deoxidation and calcium treatment that were carried out during the steelmaking process.

This report is about continuous temperature measurements of pig-iron at tapping from blast furnace 2 in Oxelösund, SSAB. Nowadays the temperature is only checked once at every tapping. The purpose of this project is to see if the process stability increases by continuously knowing the temperature and to compare the costs of this new technique with the technique used today. Possible savings due to less consumption of coke/coal if the silicon amount and the temperature are closer to their aim values will be regarded and if as little steam consumption as possible are used. The process stability can be divided into different sub goals. The ordinary measuring techniques were investigated as a part of the main goal; such as the ordinary measured temperature, the pig-iron and slag samples. The new continuous temperature measuring technique was compared with the ordinary temperature measurement and investigations of the life length were done. How representative the pig-iron and slag samples are, when taking them at the time they are today, are also looked into. The continuous measured temperature showed around 0,37 % higher temperature than the ordinary measured temperature. The pig-iron and slag samples should be taken as they are today, for mainly safety aspects. By using continuous temperature measurement, some of the sub goals can be achieved for a more stable process. The economy on the other hand has shown that large savings can be done by using this continuous temperature method due to a more stable process. This is mainly because of a decrease in steam usage in the experimental period. By regarding only the material of the methods the continuous temperature equipment is a bit more expensive, but the savings are much larger so the continuous temperature method is beneficial. With time this method could probably improve the process stability even more since the operators will deal with the information and the probe better.

This study has focused on determining the heat flows in a production blast furnace hearth. This part of the blast furnace is exposed to high temperatures. In order to increase the campaign length of the lining an improved knowledge of heat flows are necessary. Thus, it has been studied both experimentally and numerically by heat transfer modeling. Measurements of outer surface temperatures in the lower part of a production blast furnace were carried out. In the experimental study, relations were established between lining temperatures and outer surface temperatures. These relations were used as boundary conditions in a mathematical model, in which the temperature profiles in the hearth lining are calculated. The predictions show that the corner between the wall and the bottom is the most sensitive part of the hearth. Furthermore, the predictions show that no studied part of the lining had an inner temperature higher than the critical temperature 1150°C, where the iron melt can be in contact with the lining. / QC 20101124

L’auto-cicatrisation des fissures des matériaux cimentaires présente un intérêt important pour améliorer leur durabilité (propriétés de transfert par exemple). L’impact du laitier de haut-fourneau sur ce phénomène a été peu étudié bien qu’il ait été observé sur des ouvrages du Génie Civil. Dans cette étude, la cinétique et l’amplitude de l’auto-cicatrisation ont été suivies par des essais non destructifs : la tomographie aux rayons X et la perméabilité à l’air, pour une fissuration créée à 7 jours et à 28 jours. Les résultats montrent que le laitier de haut-fourneau possède un potentiel d’auto-cicatrisation intéressant pouvant dépasser les résultats obtenus pour les formulations de référence sans laitier. Ce bon potentiel dépend des caractéristiques physicochimiques des matériaux brutes et du potentiel d’hydratation de la formulation au cours du temps. De plus pour suivre l’auto-cicatrisation, un nouvel essai a été mis en place afin de fissurer les éprouvettes de mortier par retrait gêné et d’étudier l’auto-cicatrisation d’une fissure naturelle. Cet essai s’est avéré efficace sur la formulation de référence. Une caractérisation des produits de cicatrisation par MEB-EDS témoigne de la formation de nouveaux produits dans les fissures et de l’impact important des conditions de stockage sur le type de produits formés: des C-S-H pour un stockage sous eau et des carbonates de calcium pour un stockage en chambre humide (CO2 + eau). Les résultats de migration aux chlorures de nano-indentation montrent que ces produits de cicatrisation possèdent de bonnes propriétés de durabilité et des propriétés mécaniques à l’échelle microscopique intéressantes (pour le carbonate de calcium). Enfin, une modélisation du phénomène d’auto-cicatrisation est proposée au moyen du code de calcul de géochimie PHREEQC. L’étude a révélé le potentiel intéressant de PHREEQC pour modéliser l’auto-cicatrisation et en faire un outil de prédiction du phénomène. / Self-healing of cementitious materials presents great interest to improve the durability of concrete structure (transfer properties for example). The impact of blast-furnace slag on this phenomenon is not yet clear even if the self-healing of concrete with blast-furnace slag was observed in building sites. To understand the blast-furnace slag influence, non-destructive methods were used to follow self-healing: X-ray tomography and gas permeability test. All specimens were cracked at 7 days and 28 days. The results show that the blast furnace slag has an interesting self-healing potential that can exceed the reference formulation results. This good potential depends on the physico-chemical characteristics of the raw materials and the hydration potential of the formulation over time. In addition to follow the self-healing, a new trial was set up to crack mortar specimens by restrained shrinkage and study the self-healing of a natural crack. In addition to follow the self-healing, a new trial was set up to crack mortar specimens by restrained shrinkage and study the self-healing of a natural crack. This test has proven effective over the reference formulation.The SEM with EDS analysis showed the formation of new products in the crack and the impact of storage conditions on these products : C-S-H for specimens stored in water and calcium carbonate for specimens stored in a damp chamber (CO2 + water). Migration chlorures and nano-indentation tests results showed that self-healing products had interesting durability properties and micro-mechanical properties (for calcium carbonate). Finally, self-healing modelling is proposed by means of geochemistry PHREEQC calculation code. The study revealed interesting potential PHREEQC to model self- healing phenomenon and make it a of predictive tool.

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