Newer methods of stainless steel production and their impact on ferroalloy consumption pattern

Abstract

The conventional method of stainless steel making through the electric arc furnace has got several limitat-ions such as restricted use of low cost high carbon ferro-alloys and lower productivity. In recent times a number of secondary steelmaking methods viz AOD, VOD etc. have been developed to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional method. The paper describes the various new secondary steel making processes for stainless steel making. All these new processes have a substantial flexibility regard-ing the input materials usage. As a result considerable scope exists in these processes for the use of low cost ferroalloys. Based on the material balance of these proc-ess, typical examples are given in the paper on the cons-umption pattern, of the input materials. The situation in these context of the Indian stainless steelmaking industry has been reviewed.