Development for the production of low phosphorus steel in operations at Arcelor Mittal Tubaroo

The growing demand to produce steel with lower phosphorus (P) content happens in tandem with the increase in the content of this element in the ores used in the production of pig iron, leading to a constant evolution in the process of steel dephosphorization in BOF converters. Arcelor Mittal Tubarao (AMT), located in the municipality of Serra, Brazil, currently produces 5 million t of steel, but has an installed capacity of 7.5 million. This work aims at showing the development carried out in the dephosphorization of silicon-aluminium killed steel produced in the Arcelor Mittal Tubarao converters. The analysis of process variables such as flux addition, oxygen lance position and temperature at the end of blow are based on classical phosphorus partition models. The results compare phosphorus values in liquid steel before and after modifications in the variables and the refractory wear caused by the new procedures applied to AMT steelmaking converters. (Author)