Introduction:
The study focused on examining scale formation in various steel grades under different furnace atmospheres to assess their impact on the final product quality. The goal was to analyze the effects of hydrogen and oxy-fuel burners on scale formation and the steel surface.
Experimental Setup and Procedure:
The experiments were conducted under various conditions: different fuels (such as hydrogen and natural gas) and different oxygen sources (air combustion and oxy-fuel combustion). These aimed to evaluate the impact on scale formation and the metallurgical structure of the steel samples.
Results of Specific Scale Weight Gain:
The results showed that steel grades exhibited different scale formation under various atmospheres. The main influencing factor was the oxygen concentration rather than the fuel used. A higher moisture content in the oxy-fuel atmosphere led to increased scale formation, which also increased steel loss but potentially improved surface quality.
Metallurgical Investigation Results:
The metallurgical analysis showed no significant differences in the chemical composition of the scales between the fuels. However, the scale thickness varied, especially with hydrogen and oxy-fuel usage. Thinner scales under air combustion compared to oxy-fuel atmospheres indicated improved surface quality, which could be beneficial for steel production.
Summary of Metallurgical Results:
The metallurgical analysis confirmed that the fuel itself had little impact on the type of scale formed, with atmospheric conditions, especially moisture, being the main factors. For steels with high sulfur content, increased internal oxidation and delamination of the metal-oxide layer were observed in the oxy-fuel atmosphere.
Conclusion and Outlook:
In conclusion, the use of hydrogen as a fuel and oxy-fuel burners in industrial reheating furnaces does not negatively impact steel product quality. On the contrary, the results suggest that the steel surface quality may improve under these conditions, reducing the need for subsequent surface treatments. Further studies, particularly on the oxy-fuel atmosphere, will be conducted to substantiate these findings and confirm their impact on the industrial process.