| 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
R
REDUCING AGENT
Either natural gas or coal can be used to remove the oxygen from iron ore in order to produce a
scrap substitute. In gas-based processes, the iron ore is heated in a vessel as reformed
natural gas passes through. In coal-based processes, iron ore is combined with gasified or
ground coal and heated. The oxygen in the ore combines with carbon and hydrogen in the gas
or coal, producing reduced, or metallic, iron.
****
REFRACTORY BRICK
Heat-resistant brick. Because its melting point is well above the operating temperatures of the
process, refractory bricks line most steelmaking vessels that come in contact with molten metal,
like the walls of the blast furnace, sides of the ladles, and inside of the BOF.
****
REINFORCING BAR (REBAR)
A commodity-grade steel used to strengthen concrete in highway and building construction.
****
RELINE
The process of replacing the refractory lining of a liquid steel vessel. Once it wears out, the brick
lining of a furnace must be cooled, stripped, and replaced. This maintenance can be significant
because a blast furnace reline may require up to three months to complete.
****
RESIDUALS
The impurities in mini-mill steel as the result of the mix of metals entering the process
dissolved in obsolete scrap. Residuals are key concerns regarding the mini-mills’ recent entry
into the flat-rolled market, where high residuals can leave sheet steel too brittle for customer
use.
****
REVERSING MILL
The stand of rolls used to reduce steel sheet or plate by passing the steel back and forth
between the rolls; the gap between the rolls is reduced after each pass.
****
ROD
Round, thin semi-finished steel length that is rolled from a billet and coiled for further
processing. Rod is commonly drawn into wire products or used to make bolts and nails. Rod
trains (rolling facilities) can run as fast as 20,000 feet per minute — more than 200 miles an
hour.
****
ROLL FORCE SYSTEMS
Mill stands place considerable pressure on slabs, blooms and coils to further process the
material. There are two general ways of applying the force to the steel — screw and hydraulic
systems.
Screw (Incline Plane)
This older method used the basic principle of the screw to adjust the space between the mill
rolls. Because metal touches metal, these configurations will wear down over time and can
cause quality problems.
Hydraulic (Pancake Cylinder)
This modern system uses fluid pressure to rapidly adjust the roll spacing several times per
second. These minute, instantaneous adjustments allow for superior gauge tracking and
higher quality products.
****
ROLLING MILL 1
1 Any of the mills in which metal undergoes a rolling process. These include the slabbing
mill, hot roll mills, cold roll mills, SR mills, and DR mills.
2 Any operating unit that reduces gauge by application of loads through revolving cylindrical
rolls; operation can be hot or cold. The elevated temperature rolling mill is the Hot Mill and is
capable of reducing the gauge of a slab 92-99%.
****
ROUGHING STAND 1
The first rolling stand through which metal passes during hot rolling. Once reduced by the
roughing stands, the metal continues on to the finishing stands where smoother rolls with a
smaller gap are used to complete the hot roll process.
****
ROUTING 3
Produces various sizes and shapes of aluminum plate according to customer-supplied
drawings through the use of CNC controlled machinery.
****
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
R
REDUCING AGENT
Either natural gas or coal can be used to remove the oxygen from iron ore in order to produce a
scrap substitute. In gas-based processes, the iron ore is heated in a vessel as reformed
natural gas passes through. In coal-based processes, iron ore is combined with gasified or
ground coal and heated. The oxygen in the ore combines with carbon and hydrogen in the gas
or coal, producing reduced, or metallic, iron.
****
REFRACTORY BRICK
Heat-resistant brick. Because its melting point is well above the operating temperatures of the
process, refractory bricks line most steelmaking vessels that come in contact with molten metal,
like the walls of the blast furnace, sides of the ladles, and inside of the BOF.
****
REINFORCING BAR (REBAR)
A commodity-grade steel used to strengthen concrete in highway and building construction.
****
RELINE
The process of replacing the refractory lining of a liquid steel vessel. Once it wears out, the brick
lining of a furnace must be cooled, stripped, and replaced. This maintenance can be significant
because a blast furnace reline may require up to three months to complete.
****
RESIDUALS
The impurities in mini-mill steel as the result of the mix of metals entering the process
dissolved in obsolete scrap. Residuals are key concerns regarding the mini-mills’ recent entry
into the flat-rolled market, where high residuals can leave sheet steel too brittle for customer
use.
****
REVERSING MILL
The stand of rolls used to reduce steel sheet or plate by passing the steel back and forth
between the rolls; the gap between the rolls is reduced after each pass.
****
ROD
Round, thin semi-finished steel length that is rolled from a billet and coiled for further
processing. Rod is commonly drawn into wire products or used to make bolts and nails. Rod
trains (rolling facilities) can run as fast as 20,000 feet per minute — more than 200 miles an
hour.
****
ROLL FORCE SYSTEMS
Mill stands place considerable pressure on slabs, blooms and coils to further process the
material. There are two general ways of applying the force to the steel — screw and hydraulic
systems.
Screw (Incline Plane)
This older method used the basic principle of the screw to adjust the space between the mill
rolls. Because metal touches metal, these configurations will wear down over time and can
cause quality problems.
Hydraulic (Pancake Cylinder)
This modern system uses fluid pressure to rapidly adjust the roll spacing several times per
second. These minute, instantaneous adjustments allow for superior gauge tracking and
higher quality products.
****
ROLLING MILL 1
1 Any of the mills in which metal undergoes a rolling process. These include the slabbing
mill, hot roll mills, cold roll mills, SR mills, and DR mills.
2 Any operating unit that reduces gauge by application of loads through revolving cylindrical
rolls; operation can be hot or cold. The elevated temperature rolling mill is the Hot Mill and is
capable of reducing the gauge of a slab 92-99%.
****
ROUGHING STAND 1
The first rolling stand through which metal passes during hot rolling. Once reduced by the
roughing stands, the metal continues on to the finishing stands where smoother rolls with a
smaller gap are used to complete the hot roll process.
****
ROUTING 3
Produces various sizes and shapes of aluminum plate according to customer-supplied
drawings through the use of CNC controlled machinery.
****
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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