Abstract: The slag in a molten state formed at a step of refining stainless steel is adjusted such that the slag has a basicity in the range of 1.3-4.0, and the slag is mixed with a sulfur-containing material wherein the sulfur is zero or minus in valence, thereby setting the concentration of sulfur in the slag to be not less than 0.2% by weight. The slag is so modified that Cr6+ is substantially completely prevented from being eluted and can be effectively utilized as a roadbed material and a reclamation material for civil works. The slag is quenched at such a speed of cooling that the temperature of the slag is decreased from 1200° C. to 400° C. within 48 hours so that noticeable effects are attained.

Abstract: A method of rapidly reducing chromium oxide-containing slag and the like in large quantities, in a simplified manner and without requiring high temperatures. Chromium oxides are reduced with at least one of elementary sulfur and compounds of sulfur having a valence less than 6. For an aqueous solution of the sulfur component, desirably, its sulfur content is more than 0.03% by weight. As the sulfur source, preferred is blast furnace slag (e.g., non-aged, gradually-cooled blast furnace slag) that is discharged in large quantities in the iron industry. Cr6+ in chromium oxides is reduced in one of the following ways: (a) Chromium oxide-containing substances are sprayed with or immersed in blast furnace slag-released water that has been used in cooling blast furnace slag. (b) Chromium oxide-containing substances are mixed with blast furnace slag, and then kept in an air atmosphere. Optionally, the mixture is sprayed with blast furnace slag-released water.

Abstract: A method of rapidly reducing chromium oxide-containing slag and the like in large quantities, in a simplified manner and without requiring high temperatures. Chromium oxides are reduced with at least one of elementary sulfur and compounds of sulfur having a valence less than 6. For an aqueous solution of the sulfur component, desirably, its sulfur content is more than 0.03% by weight. As the sulfur source, preferred is blast furnace slag (e.g., non-aged, gradually-cooled blast furnace slag) that is discharged in large quantities in the iron industry. Cr6+ in chromium oxides is reduced in one of the following ways: (a) Chromium oxide-containing substances are sprayed with or immersed in blast furnace slag-released water that has been used in cooling blast furnace slag. (b) Chromium oxide-containing substances are mixed with blast furnace slag, and then kept in an air atmosphere. Optionally, the mixture is sprayed with blast furnace slag-released water.

Abstract: A method of rapidly reducing chromium oxide-containing slag and the like in large quantities, in a simplified manner and without requiring high temperatures. Chromium oxides are reduced with at least one of elementary sulfur and compounds of sulfur having a valence less than 6. For an aqueous solution of the sulfur component, desirably, its sulfur content is more than 0.03% by weight. As the sulfur source, preferred is blast furnace slag (e.g., non-aged, gradually-cooled blast furnace slag) that is discharged in large quantities in the iron industry. Cr6+ in chromium oxides is reduced in one of the following ways: (a) Chromium oxide-containing substances are sprayed with or immersed in blast furnace slag-released water that has been used in cooling blast furnace slag. (b) Chromium oxide-containing substances are mixed with blast furnace slag, and then kept in an air atmosphere. Optionally, the mixture is sprayed with blast furnace slag-released water.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing non-metallic foreign matter in a molten steel includes a tundish and a coil device. The tundish is an intermediate container receiving the molten steel from a ladle and feeding a purified molten steel by removing the non-metallic foreign matter in the molten steel. For removing the non-metallic foreign matter, the tundish has a swirl flow bath and a floatation bath. In the circumference of the swirl flow bath of the tundish, a coil device is arranged for flowing the molten steel in the swirl flow bath in swirl fashion. The tundish and the coil device are formed separately and constructed for relative movement to each other. The molten steel in the swirl flow bath of the tundish is flown in swirl fashion in the horizontal direction by a magnetic field generated by the coil device. At this time, the molten steel forms a parabolic concaved surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuous casting steel. A vertical continuous-casting mold consists of a pair of long side frames and a pair of short side frames formed of a metal having low electrical conductivity. An immersion nozzle supplies molten steel to the mold. An induction heating coil surrounded by a backup frame surrounds the vertical continuous-casting mold. The induction heating coil induction-heats the surface of the molten steel and neighboring portions thereof. The apparatus meets the following conditions;.xi..sup.2 =.sigma..sub.1 /.sigma..sub.2 .ltoreq.41/10.ltoreq. .eta.=(2.mu. .sub.0 .multidot..sigma..sub.2 .multidot..omega.).sup.0.5 .multidot.d.ltoreq. 10where .xi. designates the ratio of electrical conductivity of the mold and the molten steel.sigma..sub.1 designates the electrical conductivity of the mold.sigma..sub.2 designates the electrical conductivity of the molten steel.mu..sub.0 designates the permeability in a vacuumd designates the thickness of the mold.omega.

Abstract: A mold powder for use in continuous casting, containing specified amounts of CaO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, Li.sub.2 O, BaO, MgO, F and Na.sub.2 O, and further containing at least one of BN and C as aggregate. The mold powder, when used in continuous casting of a steel rich in strong reducing metal elements such as Al, Ti, REM and so forth, remarkably suppresses generation of deterioration in the surface quality of the slab and break out of the slab which are attributable inferior lubrication.

Abstract: A method of producing an ultra-low-carbon steel by conducting vacuum-decarburization of a molten steel by means of a vacuum degasifier of the type having recirculation pipes and a vacuum chamber. When the carbon content of the molten steel has come down to a level of 50 ppm or less, hydrogen gas is introduced together with an inert gas into the molten steel either by directly injecting a hydrogen-containing gas into the molten steel in the vacuum chamber through a tuyere provided in the wall of the vacuum chamber or by blowing the hydrogen-containing gas onto the surface of the molten steel in the vacuum chamber through a lance provided in the vacuum chamber. In order to enhance the effect produced by the method of the present invention, it is possible to take an additional measure such as blowing of hydrogen gas through a tuyere provided in the wall of the recirculation pipe or injection of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gas through an injection lance immersed in the molten steel held in, a ladle.

Abstract: A method of producing an ultra-low-carbon steel by using a vacuum degasser on a molten steel has the steps of conducting vacuum decarburization to attain a predetermined level of carbon content, e.g., 25 ppm or below, in the molten steel while progressively reducing the pressure in said vacuum degasser, conducting addition of hydrogen in which hydrogen is dissolved in said molten steel while said pressure is temporarily elevated to 20 Torr or above, and conducting final decarburization after reducing said pressure to 2 Torr or below. The addition of hydrogen may be conducted to meet the following conditions:[H].gtoreq.{([C]-[C]final)/5}+4wherein [H] represents the hydrogen content (ppm) in said molten steel in the state after the addition of hydrogen, [C] represents the carbon content (ppm) in the molten steel in the state after the addition of hydrogen, and [C] final represents the final carbon content (ppm) to be obtained.

Abstract: A method of removing non-metallic inclusions from a molten metal by allowing the molten metal to pass through at least first and second vessels which are intermediate between a ladle and a mold. The molten metal is made to stay in the vessel for a period not shorter than 40 seconds while a horizontal rotation is imparted to the molten metal in the first vessel. The molten metal is then transferred from the first vessel to the second vessel. The molten metal in the second vessel is then heated. This method is suitably carried out by an apparatus comprising a first vessel having a discharge opening at its bottom and surrounded by a rotational magnetic field generating device for centrifugation of the molten metal in the first vessel, and a second vessel for receiving the molten metal discharged from the first vessel and provided with a heating device for heating the molten metal received therein.

Abstract: A nozzle for use in continuous casting comprising an inner surface region defining the nozzle port for passing a molten steel, said inner surface region being formed from a mixture having a composition containing 50 to 80 wt % of boron nitride (BN) and 20 to 50 wt % of zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2), and a sintering assistant composed of silicon carbide (SiC) and boron carbide (B.sub.4 C) mixed at a weight ratio of 1:1, the sintering assistant being added in amount of 5 to 10 wt parts to 100 wt parts of said mixture. The nozzle is produced by a process comprising the steps of: forming a uniform mixture of fine particles of boron nitride (BN), zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2), silicon carbide (SiC) and boron carbide (B.sub.4 C); forming the mixture into a cylindrical blank; and fixing the cylindrical blank in the bore of a nozzle member by means of a joint filling material.

Abstract: A method of removing non-metallic inclusions from a molten metal comprises the step of simultaneously applying both a horizontal rotation of the molten metal and heating of the molten metal by induction heating. After the simultaneous application of rotational force and heat, the induction heating may be stopped while the horizontal flow of the molten metal is maintained, so as to promote the separation of the particles of the inclusions. The method is carried out by using an apparatus which has a vessel which contains the molten metal, a rotary magnetic field generating device surrounding the vessel, and an induction heating device also surrounding the vessel. Each of the rotary magnetic field generating device and the induction heating device may be divided into a plurality of circumferential segments and arranged such that the segments of both devices are alternately disposed around the vessel.

Abstract: A steel-making process in a converter, which includes using a carbon monoxide gas as an agitating gas supplied from a position lower than molten metal bath level.

Abstract: A process for producing an extremely low carbon steel in a top- and bottom-blown converter. The process is characterized in top-blowing a mixed gas of oxygen gas and an inert gas onto a molten steel in the top- and bottom-blown converter. The mixed gas is blown through a top-blowing lance at the final decarburization stage, while a gas (selected from a group consisting of an inert gas, oxygen gas and a mixture of oxygen and an inert gas) is bottom-blown into the molten steel in the converter.

Abstract: A process for separating carbon monoxide from a feed gas comprising CO.sub.2, CO and less adsorbable component than CO through PSA by using at least two adsorption columns in two stage adsorption operation which comprises a first adsorption stage for removing CO.sub.

Abstract: A mold additive for use in the continuous casting is disclosed, which comprises a base material for slag having a chemical composition of CaO--SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 system, a flux and a carbonaceous aggregate. The mold additive contains 0.5-2.0% by weight of carbon black and 1-4% by weight of activated carbon with an average particle size of not more than 10 .mu.m as the carbonaceous aggregate, and has a bulk density of not more than 0.9 g/cm.sup.3.

Abstract: Wear of tuyeres for refining a molten iron is prevented by blowing a CO-containing gas having the defined flow amount, oxygen gas flow amount and CO gas concentration as a shrouding gas which surrounds a core refining gas flow containing oxygen gas through tuyeres of concentric pipes. As the shrouding gas for cooling and protecting the tuyeres, use may be made of an exhaust gas discharged and recovered from a converter or a blast furnace by controlling the concentrations of CO and N.sub.2 in the exhaust gas to the specific limitations.

Abstract: A process for separating carbon monoxide from a feed gas .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.CO.sub.2, CO and less adsorbable component than CO through PSA by using at least two adsorption columns in two stage adsorption operation which .[.comprises.]. .Iadd.includes .Iaddend.a first adsorption stage for removing CO.sub.2 from .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.feed gas and a second adsorption stage for separating CO from gaseous mixture withdrawn from the first adsorption stage:(1) the first adsorption stage comprising a pressure swing adsorption repeating adsorption and desorption, and(2) the second adsorption stage comprising:(i) pressurization by the first stage product gas,(ii) adsorption,(iii) depressurization,(iv) purge by product gas,(v) evacuation for recovering product gas, and(vi) pressurization by gas withdrawn in other column, periodically switching the flow between or among .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.