Effect of Residual Elements during the Hot‐Working Process of Steel Production: A Critical Review

Abstract

Demand for steel scrap as feedstock for steelmaking increases, allowing the production of steel with lower energy costs and reduced CO2 emissions. In general, steel scrap may contain high levels of undesirable residual elements, which may contribute to processing challenges such as surface hot‐shortness, bulk hot‐shortness, hot‐brittleness, and higher rolling loads during the hot‐working process of steel production. The effect of different residual elements during the hot‐deformation process is a broad topic and involves the understanding of both individual and combined behavior of residual elements for different thermal and mechanical conditions that arise. In this article, the behavior of various residual elements is critically reviewed, individually and synergistically at high temperatures during the hot‐working process (i.e., reheat furnace stage, descaling stage, and deformation stage) of steel production, with a focus on (surface) hot‐shortness, delayed recrystallization, and higher rolling loads caused by the residual elements. Herein, it is aimed to help the steel community to identify challenges and opportunities in efficiently utilizing steel scrap.