Process-based steel cleanliness investigations and rapid metallurgical screening of inclusions by modern PDA techniques (Ramsci) : final report

The main objective of this project is to improve the methods for control of metallurgical processes, by introducing online determination of non-metallic inclusion characteristics based on OES-PDA. The work has included method development, software development and several plant trial campaigns. Within the first part of the project, process sampling was developed and tested to a stage where representative sampling with respect to inclusion characteristics was assured. The instrumental parameters, data acquisition and data evaluation were investigated and standardised to a large extent. With these objectives realised, extensive plant trial campaigns could be carried out. The results of these have been evaluated and served as a basis for general recommendations on how to use OES-PDA in practical online applications. In an iterative process, the methods for data acquisition and data evaluation have progressively been improved during the project, and implemented in user-friendly software, also available to all partners on a web-based server. In addition, a set of reference material (RM) has been produced and certified for verification of analytical results. The result of these achievements is that OES-PDA is now implemented as part of routine analysis in several steelworks, using significantly improved and nearly standardised analytical procedures. In addition it should be pointed out that this project has provided an excellent example of cooperation in the spirit of 'the European dimension'. This has of course contributed very much to the success of the project.