Requirements for Steel Scrap in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking
Scrap steel is the basic raw material for electric arc furnace steelmaking, and its consumption accounts for about 70% to 90% of the steel material. When molten iron is used in the oxygen converter to make steel, due to the abundant heat, up to 30% of scrap steel can be added as a coolant to adjust the blowing temperature. Cooling with scrap steel can reduce the consumption of iron and steel materials, slagging materials, and oxygen, and it has a more stable effect than iron ore cooling with less splashing. Graphite electrodes are widely used in electric arc furnaces for melting steel scrap.
The quality of scrap steel has a great influence on the technical and economic indicators of steelmaking, and the source of scrap steel is often very miscellaneous, so the management and processing of scrap steel are very important. Scrap steel should be carefully checked before being put into the furnace to prevent the mixing of closed containers, explosives, and toxic substances, and attention should be paid to prevent the mixing of lead, zinc, tin, copper, and other non-ferrous metals. In addition, mud sand, refractory materials, and slag brought in by scrap steel should be minimized.