European steelmakers warn they have reached the limits of how much recycled metal can feed their mills as competition for scrap is driving exports to emerging Asian economies. EurActiv reports from ArcelorMittal's factory in Ghent in Belgium.
Environmental concerns were hardly an issue when Luxembourg steel giant Arbed founded the Ghent production site in 1959. Today, the factory's owners have changed and the priorities have shifted to international competition and resource efficiency, with recycling taking a more prominent role.
Between 10% and 15% of the steel rolls that come out of ArcelorMittal's Ghent factory are made from recycled metal. Using scrap reduces the need to import iron ore, whose prices have sky-rocketed in recent years. It also helps save energy as the metal can be melted directly in the steel mill.
Mr Richard Mortier, head of environment at ArcelorMittal's Ghent factory, said that "We us a lot of scrap." However, he says scrap use in the factory, which mainly produces high quality flat steel for the automotive sector, is now reaching its limits, with up to 200 kilogram that can effectively be used for every tonne produced.
Over the last decade, exports of scrap metal from the EU 27 have doubled, from 9,403 tonnes in 2000 to 18,985 tonnes in 2010, according to Eurostat figures. Meanwhile, the consumption of recycled scrap has tended to decrease, from 100,256 tonnes in 2000 to 95,900 in 2010.
These lower quality steels are produced using a method called Electric Arc Furnace, used for example to produce metal beams for the construction industry or to build railway tracks.
Besides, part of the steel never finds its way back to the production chain. Old cars may be exported outside Europe and metal beams used in construction might stay in the ground after buildings are\der in bulk materials nanotechnology, has announced that two technical papers and a technical poster will be presented next week at the 2011 Materials Science & Technology Conference and Exhibition, from October 16th 2011 to October 20th 2011 in Columbus in Ohio.
The presentations will focus on NanoSteel research and development breakthroughs in high strength, iron-based metallic glass and glassy nano materials.
"Understanding and Controlling Nanostructure Formation and Development in NanoSteel" will be presented as an invited talk by Dr Daniel Branagan, chief technical officer on October 18th 2011. The presentation will demonstrate enabling routes to achieve nanoscale structures and link structural changes to increases in physical properties such as hardness, strength and wear resistance.
"Microstructure Exploration of High Strength High Ductility Iron Based Glassy NanoMaterials" will be presented as a poster by Mr Sheng Cheng, senior staff scientist bulk material development on October 18th 2011. The poster presentation will address the development of high strength, iron based glassy nano materials with significant tensile ductility and novel work hardening ability.
"High Strength Ductile Glassy NanoMaterials Microwires" will be presented by Mr Alla Sergueeva, director bulk material development on October 20th 2011. The presentation will cover NanoSteel research which has produced high strength, iron based steel micro wires with tensile ductility up to 8% and tensile strength up to 5 GPa.
(Sourced from www.euractiv.com)
