Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is a solid waste generated in the collection of particulate material during steelmaking process in electric arc furnace. The aim of this work is to carry out a chemical and structural characterization of two EAFD samples with different Zn contents. Optical emission spectroscopy via inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X ray diffractometry (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis were carried out in such EAFD samples. From XRD measurements, the samples exhibits the following phases: ZnFe2O4, Fe3O4, MgFe2O4, FeCr2O4, Ca0.15Fe2.85O4, MgO, Mn3O4, SiO2 and ZnO. The phases detected by Mössbauer spectroscopy were: ZnFe2O4, Fe3O4, Ca0.15Fe2.85O4 and FeCr2O4. Magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4), observed in the XRD patterns as overlapped peaks, was not identified in the Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis

For about 10 years the steel industry in Brazil has used pulverized coal injection (PCI) technology in the blast furnaces based on imported coals. In order to decrease the dependence on imported coals, Brazilian coal, which has limited use due to high ash content, was suggested to be mixed with imported coal and charcoal. The aim was to examine the reactivity of the samples. The charcoal use in the steel industry contributes to the CO 2 emission reduction, since it represents a renewable source of energy. The reactivity of the coals, charcoal and mixtures was evaluated through simultaneous thermal analyses. Results of this study are presented and discussed.

Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) is an important standard technology replacing coke partially by pulverized coal into the blast furnace that allows a significant reduction of hot metal costs and environmental impact, contributing to a decrease of coke requirements for ironmaking. Coals typically used in this process in Brazil are, at current time, exclusively imported from many countries, although economic important coal-measures occur in the southern part of the country. The Brazilian coals have a low rank, higher contents of inert components, proportioning nocoking properties and an expected high reactivity. Due to these caractheristics, these coals could be used for injection in the blast furnaces in order to decrease the dependency on high cost imported coals. The efficiency in the combustion and the coal reactivity are considered important parameters in the blast furnace, since a larger amount of char (unburned coal) causes severe problems to the furnace operation. The aim of the present work is to compare the reactivity of a south Brazilian coal, obtained from Faxinal mine, with two imported coals and the blends of the Brazilian coal with the imported ones. The reactivity of these coals and their blends were evaluated in a thermogravimetric analyzer. In the experiments, various mass ratios of Faxinal coal and the imported coals were used to compose the blends. The gasification reaction with pure CO2 was conducted under isothermal conditions at 1050 °C and atmospheric pressure. The experimental results show the greater reactivity of the Faxinal coal. The additive behavior was confirmed. The blends with a composition of up to 50% Faxinal coal have parameters according to the usual limits used for PCI

A thermodynamic study was carried out to evaluate the contents of Al, Ca, S and O at which liquid or partially liquid inclusions are formed to optimize the castability of SAE 8620 steel. Samples of steel secondary treatment (Ladle) and continuous‐casting billets (Tundish) were obtained from an electric steel mill. Entry data for this study were obtained in heats carried out in the steel plant. Furthermore, analyses were performed with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and an Energy‐Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), as well as chemical analysis of both steel and total oxygen. In the Ladle sample, after calcium addition, inclusions had concentrations between 30 and 45% CaO and consisted mainly of calcium‐aluminates with MgO content of 10%. In the Tundish sample, inclusions contained a high percentage of alumina. Combining the characterization of inclusions with a computational thermodynamics model, the obtained results showed that the ideal range of calcium may vary between 10 and 14 ppm to form liquid inclusions with a minimum CaS content for the O, S and Al levels from SAE 8620 in this process stage. An analysis of Mg influence on the formation of calcium‐aluminates was also carried out. For contents of Mg found in aluminium‐killed steels treated with Ca, Mg does not significantly influence the formation of calcium‐aluminates inclusions. Higher calcium contents can be taken into account, depending on both the process type in steel production and the demanded product properties. The present study shows that the combined application of both inclusions characterization techniques and computational thermodynamics can drastically reduce the empiricism regarding the development of processes for the control of non‐metallic inclusions in steels. Thus, this research can contribute to increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes, improve the quality of existent products and make possible the economic development of new ones.