Gases for the Metal Production Industry
Argon
Argon is used:
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide can be used as a stirring gas in BOFs, ladles, and furnaces in place of nitrogen and argon. It also can be used as a protective atmosphere in casting and to suppress fume emissions.
Helium
Helium is used to do more than create an inert gas as a shield in heat-treating applications and metal finishing. Helium also makes it possible for metallurgists to extract, smelt and refine a variety of advanced materials such as:
These advanced materials take advantage of helium's:
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is used as a protective atmosphere in high-temperature metal finishing and coating operations such as annealing and hot dip galvanizing. It is also used in significant quantities for natural gas based production of direct reduced iron.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen atmospheres are used for cooling, stirring, and protecting metal from oxidation during production. Nitrogen is used:
Oxygen
Oxygen is used in heating and melting metals. It is the most widely used industrial gas in steel making due to its continued use in the basic oxygen furnace (BOF), its growing use for air enrichment in the blast furnace, and its ability to provide supplemental chemical heat in the electric arc furnace (EAF). Also, injected oxygen is used for converting potential carbon monoxide into extra energy in the EAF; for heating and generating carbon monoxide to reduce iron ore in the blast furnace; and for producing alternate iron.
Argon is used:
 | » | Whenever a totally inert gas that does not affect metal chemistry is required |
| » | For inerting vessels, equipment, and metal transfer streams in tapping and casting operations |
| » | To provide stirring and promote slag/metal refining reactions |
| » | To flush out carbon monoxide and reduce chromium losses in the Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) process for producing stainless and high alloy steels |
| » | As a coolant to protect oxygen injection tuyeres in various oxygen converters |
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide can be used as a stirring gas in BOFs, ladles, and furnaces in place of nitrogen and argon. It also can be used as a protective atmosphere in casting and to suppress fume emissions.
Helium
Helium is used to do more than create an inert gas as a shield in heat-treating applications and metal finishing. Helium also makes it possible for metallurgists to extract, smelt and refine a variety of advanced materials such as:
| » | Niobium |
| » | Tantalum |
| » | Titanium |
| » | Zirconium |
These advanced materials take advantage of helium's:
| » | High arc temperature |
| » | High heat transfer |
| » | Inertness |
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is used as a protective atmosphere in high-temperature metal finishing and coating operations such as annealing and hot dip galvanizing. It is also used in significant quantities for natural gas based production of direct reduced iron.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen atmospheres are used for cooling, stirring, and protecting metal from oxidation during production. Nitrogen is used:
| » | In tapping and casting operations |
| » | To eliminate the formation of explosive mixtures in enclosed spaces |
| » | To prevent undesirable reactions between iron and steel with oxygen and hydrogen in the surrounding atmosphere |
Oxygen
Oxygen is used in heating and melting metals. It is the most widely used industrial gas in steel making due to its continued use in the basic oxygen furnace (BOF), its growing use for air enrichment in the blast furnace, and its ability to provide supplemental chemical heat in the electric arc furnace (EAF). Also, injected oxygen is used for converting potential carbon monoxide into extra energy in the EAF; for heating and generating carbon monoxide to reduce iron ore in the blast furnace; and for producing alternate iron.
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