Speakers
Description
Thermomechanical processing (TMP) in its various forms is the key process for producing modern high-performance steels. TMP typically provides microstructures featuring small grain size, enhanced dislocation density, precipitate particles and secondary hard phases. However, mechanisms such as recovery, recrystallization, grain growth as well as particle coarsening can cause microstructural softening opposing the intended goal of TMP. Several decades of development have resulted in elaborate industrial TMP practices, controlling and limiting these adverse effects. Yet even capable TM processing equipment might be confronted with temperature and deformation schedules that are too challenging for reliably obtaining the desired microstructure and, hence, the required property spectrum under everyday industrial conditions. In this case, dedicated alloy additions are essential to widening the processing window for enabling reproducible and economic production via TMP.
Niobium microalloying has the most prominent role of all alloying elements in TMP by far. CBMM recently celebrated 70 years of activity, understanding the niobium’s physical metallurgical effects, together with our partners. Different than other alloying elements, niobium has grown with no uncertainties of supply and with pricing not subjected to speculations and spikes. Sustainability at CBMM is linked to the environmental impact, the economic aspects of our partners and social recognition. In relation to carbon footprint, we have defined actions to reduce emissions in FeNb production, becoming net zero in 2040, and we can already contribute reducing the steel production’s emission, rebalancing the steel compositions with Nb additions and reduction of other alloying elements. We have real case developed in which we saved between 30 and 100 kg CO2 per ton of steel, with cost reduction. Therefore, this contribution demonstrates CBMM’s efforts in reducing niobium’s carbon footprint as well as in guaranteeing a globally stable supply stream of metal.