| Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Steel. . . But Were Afraid to Ask Copyright Michelle Applebaum Research, Inc 2003-2006 All rights reserved. June 2006 |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
I
I-BEAMS
Structural sections on which the flanges are tapered and are typically not as long as the flanges
on wide-flange beams. The flanges are thicker at the cross sections and thinner at the toes of
the flanges. They are produced with depths of three inches to 24 inches.
****
IMPORT ADMINISTRATION
Import Administration, within the International Trade Administration of the Department of
Commerce, enforces laws and agreements to protect U.S. businesses from unfair competition
within the U.S. resulting from unfair pricing by foreign companies and unfair subsidies to foreign
companies by their governments.
****
INGOT
A form of semi-finished type of metal. Liquid metal is teemed (poured) into molds, where it
slowly solidifies. Once the metal is solid, the mold is stripped, and the 25- to 30-ton ingots are
then ready for subsequent rolling or forging.
****
INMETCO
What?
Inmetco is a coal-based process similar to FASTMET that uses iron oxide fines and pulverized
coal to produce a scrap substitute. Mill scale and flue dust, inexpensive by-products of
steelmaking, can be mixed with the iron oxide fines. Inmetco, unlike other direct reduction
products, is intended to be hot charged into an EAF, with attendant energy savings.
How?
The process includes three steps. First, iron oxide fines, pulverized coal and a binder are
formed into pellets. Second, the pellets, two to three layers deep, are heated in a gas-fired
rotary hearth furnace for 15–20 minutes to produce sponge iron. Subsequently, the iron must
be desulfurized. The coal in the pellets provides much of the energy required in the second
phase.
****
INTEGRATED MILLS
These facilities make steel by processing iron ore and other raw materials in blast furnaces.
Technically, only the hot end differentiates integrated mills from mini-mills. However, the
differing technological approaches to molten steel imply different scale efficiencies and,
therefore, separate management styles, labor relations, and product markets. Nearly all
domestic integrated mills specialize in flat-rolled steel or plate.
****
INTERSTITIAL FREE STEEL
A recently developed sheet steel product with very low carbon levels that is used primarily in
automotive deep-drawing applications. Interstitial Free Steel’s improved ductility (drawing
ability) is made possible by vacuum degassing.
****
IRON CARBIDE
One of several substitutes for high-quality, low-residual scrap for use in electric furnace
steelmaking. Iron carbide producers use natural gas to reduce iron ore to iron carbide.
****
IRON ORE
Mineral containing enough iron to be a commercially viable source of the element for use in
steelmaking. Except for fragments of meteorites found on earth, iron is not a free element;
instead, it is trapped in the earth’s crust in its oxidized form.
****
Source: Weirton Steel Glossary
Source: Dofasco Glossary of Terms
Source: Reliance Steel 10-K
Source: BlueScope Steel Glossary of Terms
Source: Allegheny Technologies 10-K
Source: Alcoa 10-K
Source: Alcan 10-K
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
I
I-BEAMS
Structural sections on which the flanges are tapered and are typically not as long as the flanges
on wide-flange beams. The flanges are thicker at the cross sections and thinner at the toes of
the flanges. They are produced with depths of three inches to 24 inches.
****
IMPORT ADMINISTRATION
Import Administration, within the International Trade Administration of the Department of
Commerce, enforces laws and agreements to protect U.S. businesses from unfair competition
within the U.S. resulting from unfair pricing by foreign companies and unfair subsidies to foreign
companies by their governments.
****
INGOT
A form of semi-finished type of metal. Liquid metal is teemed (poured) into molds, where it
slowly solidifies. Once the metal is solid, the mold is stripped, and the 25- to 30-ton ingots are
then ready for subsequent rolling or forging.
****
INMETCO
What?
Inmetco is a coal-based process similar to FASTMET that uses iron oxide fines and pulverized
coal to produce a scrap substitute. Mill scale and flue dust, inexpensive by-products of
steelmaking, can be mixed with the iron oxide fines. Inmetco, unlike other direct reduction
products, is intended to be hot charged into an EAF, with attendant energy savings.
How?
The process includes three steps. First, iron oxide fines, pulverized coal and a binder are
formed into pellets. Second, the pellets, two to three layers deep, are heated in a gas-fired
rotary hearth furnace for 15–20 minutes to produce sponge iron. Subsequently, the iron must
be desulfurized. The coal in the pellets provides much of the energy required in the second
phase.
****
INTEGRATED MILLS
These facilities make steel by processing iron ore and other raw materials in blast furnaces.
Technically, only the hot end differentiates integrated mills from mini-mills. However, the
differing technological approaches to molten steel imply different scale efficiencies and,
therefore, separate management styles, labor relations, and product markets. Nearly all
domestic integrated mills specialize in flat-rolled steel or plate.
****
INTERSTITIAL FREE STEEL
A recently developed sheet steel product with very low carbon levels that is used primarily in
automotive deep-drawing applications. Interstitial Free Steel’s improved ductility (drawing
ability) is made possible by vacuum degassing.
****
IRON CARBIDE
One of several substitutes for high-quality, low-residual scrap for use in electric furnace
steelmaking. Iron carbide producers use natural gas to reduce iron ore to iron carbide.
****
IRON ORE
Mineral containing enough iron to be a commercially viable source of the element for use in
steelmaking. Except for fragments of meteorites found on earth, iron is not a free element;
instead, it is trapped in the earth’s crust in its oxidized form.
****
Source: Weirton Steel Glossary
Source: Dofasco Glossary of Terms
Source: Reliance Steel 10-K
Source: BlueScope Steel Glossary of Terms
Source: Allegheny Technologies 10-K
Source: Alcoa 10-K
Source: Alcan 10-K
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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