Steelmaking Technology for the Last 100 Years: Toward Highly Efficient Mass-Production Systems for High-Quality Steels

Progress of steelmaking technology in Japan over the last 100 years is reviewed covering hot metal treatment, primary steelmaking with open hearth furnaces, converters and electric arc furnaces, secondary refining of steel with degassers and ladle furnaces, and ingot-/continuous-casting. Key issues that contributed considerably to the progress of the unit processes are highlighted with scientific, technological and engineering break-throughs involved. Systematization of the unit processes, that optimized full cost, productivity and quality of steel products to meet the constraints on the resources and socioeconomic demands of the steel market at times, is depicted as another key issue for the successful systematization. Possible future development of steel technology is briefly commented on the basis of the above observation.