Surface properties and their impact on the performance of fossil-free steels
Producing mechanical components in steel often requires several manufacturing processes. Rolling is the most common process for manufacturing of sheet steel and it is do in multiple stages from hot rolling to final cold rolling depending on the properties of the steel. Subsequent processes such as forming, bending, punching, laser processing, etc. may be carried out with the aim of producing a final steel component for a mechanical system.
Throughout the steel manufacturing process, the surface of the steel is continuously changing, and with this, the properties of the final component also change. Since many damages and failures of mechanical components are often initiated at or just below the surface, it is of great importance to understand the types of defects and damages that occur during steel manufacturing. During manufacturing, various microstructures, oxide layers on the surface, deformation of the surface, subsurface defects, etc. are formed, affecting the mechanical properties of the steel. These changes affect the behavior of the steel both during the manufacturing process and the performance of the final steel components.
The aim of this research project is to study the types of surface damages and defects that occur in different manufacturing processes and how these may propagate or change in subsequent manufacturing steps. Subsequently, the mechanical properties of the steel, such as hardness and yield strength, and its mechanical performance, such as bending properties and wear resistance, will be characterized and correlated to the identified surface damages and defects.
By creating an increased understanding and knowledge of the link between surface damage and performance, both manufacturing processes can be improved as well as prediction models can be developed to predict how a particular material is best utilized in a given application.
The production of fossil-free steels via direct reduction of iron and scrap in an electric arc furnace differs to some extent from the traditional method where pig iron from iron ore are reduced in a blast furnace with coke. Studying and understanding possible differences between conventional steel and fossil-free steel in terms of its surface properties, surface defects and the impact of different manufacturing processes is an important part of the implementation and use of fossil-free steel in industrial applications.
Updated: