Brazilian Metallurgical Research Boosts Powder Steel and Slag Splashing

Researchers at the Universidade Federal da Integração Latino‑Americana evaluated low‑energy ball milling of 316L stainless‑steel powder combined with niobium carbide. Microscopy after 40 hours revealed the formation of plate‑like structures, and after 80 hours these plates broke into finer particles. X‑ray diffraction confirmed increasing deformation‑induced martensite, reaching about 20 % at 40 hours, 24 % at 80 hours wet‑milled, and 38 % at 80 hours dry‑milled.

A graduate study at the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto applied video‑image analysis to the slag‑splashing process used in basic‑oxygen furnace (BOF) converters. The analysis identified an optimal solid‑fraction range of 20‑35 % right after splash initiation and showed that higher solid content produced larger and more numerous slag particles. By using FeO content and slag temperature as decision criteria, the new operational practice reduced refractory wear in the converter. Both investigations provide technical pathways to improve steel material quality and extend the service life of refractory linings in steel production.