Why steel is so expensive

Blind git, did you not see the one on its side being stripped of its bricks, what is the point of me going to all this trouble to find decent enough stuff to post if you don't bloody pay attention in class.
 
Yes, it's a fascinating and dramatic process, though in recent decades much of it has become increasingly less visible. The heat given off is phenomenal.
 
I couldn't work out why they let it cool instead of carrying on the forming process then do any annealing at the end.
 
I wonder if the residual heat left from the processes are able to be funneled for for more energy elsewhere
That's what I meant in the post above you.
 
I couldn't work out why they let it cool instead of carrying on the forming process then do any annealing at the end.
It needs to be allowed to cool sufficiently as it goes through the continuous caster mould for a "crust" to form; inside this, the steel is still liquid (and a break-out on the continuous caster, when liquid steel breaks through the solidified skin is highly undesirable - and dangerous - with serious consequences for anyone in the immediate vicinity and for the concaster equipment). The liquid steel needs to solidify prior to rolling, but the outer skin will cool too much. The steel may be placed in soaking pits to try to equalise temperature, but a reheating furnace is often necessary to bring it back up to rolling temperature - this is not an annealing process. Of course in some instances (particularly in the case of special steels), part of a cast may be stored (cold) for rolling at a later date into a product (form, dimensions) that cannot be rolled using the current set-up or for which there are not currently any orders.
These days, more attention is paid to recovery of residual heat than was the case in the past.
 
50 years ago the steel works in Bradford exported the equipment to Korea because it was cheaper to import it
Are you from Bradford then?

I'd long forgotten about the mills at Openshaw, we had a lot of engineering, Dean Smith and Grace used to make the best lathes in the world, but although the company is still here in Keighley, I don't think they make much now, and of course the mills are all flats or flattened too, there are a few sheds still weaving though.


 

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top