Low carbon steel, also known as mild steel, is a type of steel with a low carbon content, typically ranging from 0.05% to 0.30% by weight. Its low carbon content gives it excellent weldability, ductility, and machinability, making it a highly versatile material in various industries. Producing low carbon steel involves several stages, from raw material preparation to final processing, each step requiring precision and expertise. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to make low carbon steel.
How to Make Low Carbon Steel?
How to Make Low Carbon Steel? – Step 1. Raw Material Selection:
The first step in making low carbon steel is selecting the right raw materials. The primary raw materials are iron ore, limestone, and coke. Iron ore, typically in the form of hematite (Fe2O3) or magnetite (Fe3O4), provides the iron content. Limestone (CaCO3) is used as a flux to remove impurities during the smelting process. Coke, a carbon-rich fuel derived from coal, provides the heat and reducing agent necessary for the reduction of iron ore.
How to Make Low Carbon Steel? – Step 2. Smelting:
In the smelting stage, the selected raw materials are fed into a blast furnace. Inside the furnace, the coke burns, providing heat and reducing gas (CO and H2) that react with the iron ore, converting it into molten iron. The limestone reacts with the impurities in the iron ore, forming a slag that floats on top of the molten iron and is easily separated.
How to Make Low Carbon Steel? – Step 3. Desulfurization and Deoxidation:
After smelting, the molten iron contains small amounts of sulfur and oxygen, which need to be removed to produce high-quality steel. This is achieved by adding specific agents to the molten iron. For desulfurization, calcium carbide or magnesium is added, which reacts with sulfur to form gaseous compounds that are easily removed. Deoxidation is achieved by adding silicon, manganese, or aluminum, which react with oxygen to form non-metallic inclusions that settle at the bottom of the ladle.
How to Make Low Carbon Steel? – Step 4. Conversion to Steel:
Once the molten iron is desulfurized and deoxidized, it is ready to be converted into steel. This is done in a converter, where oxygen is blown into the molten iron, causing a violent reaction that removes carbon and other impurities. The carbon content is carefully controlled to achieve the desired low carbon level in the steel.
How to Make Low Carbon Steel? – Step 5. Ladle Treatment:
After the conversion process, the steel is poured into a ladle for further treatment. This stage involves temperature adjustment, alloy addition, and deoxidation if necessary. Alloys like chromium, nickel, or molybdenum may be added to enhance the mechanical properties of the steel.
How to Make Low Carbon Steel? – Step 6. Casting and Rolling:
The treated steel is then cast into ingots or slabs, depending on the desired product. These ingots or slabs are then heated in a reheating furnace to soften them before being rolled into the desired shape and thickness. The rolling process is carefully controlled to achieve the desired mechanical properties and surface finish.
How to Make Low Carbon Steel? – Step 7. Cooling and Finishing:
After rolling, the steel is cooled either naturally or through controlled cooling methods to achieve the desired microstructure and mechanical properties. The final product, low carbon steel, is then ready for further processing or use in various applications.
Conclusion
Producing low carbon steel is a complex process that requires precise control of various parameters and the use of high-quality raw materials. It involves raw material selection, smelting, desulfurization and deoxidation, conversion to steel, ladle treatment, casting and rolling, and cooling and finishing. Each step requires expertise and careful attention to detail to ensure the production of high-quality low carbon steel.
Thank you for reading our article and we hope it can help you to have a better understanding of how to make low carbon steel. If you are looking for low carbon steel suppliers online now, please don’t hesitate to contact Huaxia Steel.
As a leading supplier of carbon steel products from Shanghai China, Huaxia Steel provides customers with high-quality carbon steel, tool steel, alloy steel, carbon steel tubes, and carbon steel pipes at a very competitive price.
