Solid state steelmaking by decarburisation of rapidly solidified high carbon iron sheet

The feasibility of ‘solid state steelmaking’ (S3process) to meet the demand of environmental issues and higher production cost was previously studied. The S3process is the production of high carbon iron sheets from high carbon hot metal using a strip caster and a solid state decarburisation process to produce low carbon steel sheets. In the present study, the possible use of Fe–C melts with relatively low carbon contents of 1·2–1·9 mass-% as an initial hot metal source and the decarburisation behaviours of the produced hypereutectoid iron sheets from these melts were investigated to evaluate practical application. Based on the decarburisation behaviours of the hypereutectoid iron sheets and its mechanical properties, the process using Fe–C melts with 1·2 mass-%C is promising as an environmentally conscious low cost steelmaking process, although further improvements will be necessary.