| 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
T
TACONITE
What?
Natural mineral containing less than 30% iron. It is the primary ore used in blast furnaces.
Why?
Domestic supplies of iron-rich ores (greater than 50% iron) were largely depleted in the 1940s,
so integrated steel companies now process the lower grade taconite to make it useful.
****
TAILORED BLANKS
A section of sheet or strip that is cut-to-length and trimmed to match specifications for the
manufacturer’s stamping design for a particular part. Because excess steel is cut away (to save
shipping costs), all that remains for the stamper is to impart the three-dimensional shape with a
die press (see Blanking).
****
TANDEM MILL
A type of cold-rolling mill, the tandem mill imparts greater strength, a uniform and smoother
surface, and reduced thickness to the steel sheet. Unlike the original single-stand mills, a
tandem mill rolls steel through a series of rolls (generally three to five in a row) to achieve a
desired thickness and surface quality.
****
TANTALUM 5
An exotic alloy having high corrosion resistance; used for medical implants, chemical process
equipment, and aerospace engine components.
****
TAP-TO-TAP TIME
The length of time between successive melting cycles or heats.
****
TEEMING
Pouring; ingot molds are filled (teemed) by iron-bearing ladles.
****
TEE SPLITTING
Involves splitting metal beams. Tee straightening is the process of straightening split beams.
****
TEMPER MILL
A type of cold-rolling mill, usually with only one or two stands, that finishes cold-rolled, annealed
sheet steel by improving the finish or texture to develop the required final mechanical
properties. By changing the rolls of the temper mill, steel can be shipped with a shiny, dull, or
grooved surface.
****
TERNE
Sheet steel coated with a mixture of lead and tin. Terne principally is used in the manufacture of
gasoline tanks, although it also can be found in chemical containers, oil filters, and television
chassis.
****
TIN MILL
Continuous tin-plating facility to produce tin mill steel sheet to be used in food and beverage
cans and other containers.
****
TIN/CHROME PLATING
A plating process whereby the molecules from the positively charged tin or chromium anode
attach to the negatively charged sheet steel. The thickness of the coating is readily controlled
through regulation of the voltage and speed of the sheet through the plating area.
****
TIN-FREE STEEL
Chromium-coated steel. Because it is used in food cans just like tin plate, it ironically is
classified as a tin mill product.
****
TIN PLATE
Thin sheet steel with a very thin coating of metallic tin. Tin plate is used primarily in canmaking.
****
TITANIUM
Titanium and its alloys have very high strength-to-weight ratios. At normal temperatures, they
have high resistance to corrosion. Used primarily in aerospace and chemical processing
applications.
****
TOLERANCES
A customer’s specifications can refer to dimensions or to the chemical properties of steel
ordered. The tolerance measures the allowable difference in product specifications between
what a customer orders and what the steel company delivers. There is no standard tolerance
because each customer maintains its own variance objective. Tolerances are given as the
specification, plus or minus an error factor; the smaller the range, the higher the cost.
****
TOLL PROCESSING
The act of processing steel for a fee (“toll”). Owners of the steel sheet may not possess the
facilities to perform needed operations on the material (or may not have the open capacity).
Therefore, another steel mill or service center will slit, roll, coat, anneal, or plate the metal for a
fee.
****
TOOL STEELS
Steels that are hardened for the use in the manufacture of tools and dies.
****
TON
Unit of measure for steel scrap and iron ore.
Gross Ton: 2,240 pounds.
Long (Net) Ton: 2,240 pounds.
Short (Net) Ton: 2,000 pounds. Normal unit of statistical raw material input and steel output in
the United States.
Metric Ton: 1,000 kilograms. 2,204.6 pounds or 1.102 short tons.
****
TUBING
When referring to OCTG, tubing is a separate pipe used within the casing to conduct the oil or
gas to the surface. Depending on conditions and well life, tubing may have to be replaced
during the operational life of a well.
****
TUNDISH
The shallow refractory-lined basin on top of the continuous caster. It receives the liquid steel
from the ladle, prior to the cast, allowing the operator to precisely regulate the flow of metal into
the mold.
****
TUNGSTEN MATERIALS 5
Include tungsten and tungsten carbide powders, sintered tungsten carbide products and cutting
tools for the metalworking, mining, oil and gas, and other industries requiring tools with extra
hardness.
****
TUNNEL FURNACE
Type of furnace whereby stock to be heated is placed upon cars, which are then pushed or
pulled slowly through the furnace.
****
TWIN MILLING 3
Grinds one or all six sides of a small square or rectangular piece of aluminum plate into close
tolerance.
****
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
T
TACONITE
What?
Natural mineral containing less than 30% iron. It is the primary ore used in blast furnaces.
Why?
Domestic supplies of iron-rich ores (greater than 50% iron) were largely depleted in the 1940s,
so integrated steel companies now process the lower grade taconite to make it useful.
****
TAILORED BLANKS
A section of sheet or strip that is cut-to-length and trimmed to match specifications for the
manufacturer’s stamping design for a particular part. Because excess steel is cut away (to save
shipping costs), all that remains for the stamper is to impart the three-dimensional shape with a
die press (see Blanking).
****
TANDEM MILL
A type of cold-rolling mill, the tandem mill imparts greater strength, a uniform and smoother
surface, and reduced thickness to the steel sheet. Unlike the original single-stand mills, a
tandem mill rolls steel through a series of rolls (generally three to five in a row) to achieve a
desired thickness and surface quality.
****
TANTALUM 5
An exotic alloy having high corrosion resistance; used for medical implants, chemical process
equipment, and aerospace engine components.
****
TAP-TO-TAP TIME
The length of time between successive melting cycles or heats.
****
TEEMING
Pouring; ingot molds are filled (teemed) by iron-bearing ladles.
****
TEE SPLITTING
Involves splitting metal beams. Tee straightening is the process of straightening split beams.
****
TEMPER MILL
A type of cold-rolling mill, usually with only one or two stands, that finishes cold-rolled, annealed
sheet steel by improving the finish or texture to develop the required final mechanical
properties. By changing the rolls of the temper mill, steel can be shipped with a shiny, dull, or
grooved surface.
****
TERNE
Sheet steel coated with a mixture of lead and tin. Terne principally is used in the manufacture of
gasoline tanks, although it also can be found in chemical containers, oil filters, and television
chassis.
****
TIN MILL
Continuous tin-plating facility to produce tin mill steel sheet to be used in food and beverage
cans and other containers.
****
TIN/CHROME PLATING
A plating process whereby the molecules from the positively charged tin or chromium anode
attach to the negatively charged sheet steel. The thickness of the coating is readily controlled
through regulation of the voltage and speed of the sheet through the plating area.
****
TIN-FREE STEEL
Chromium-coated steel. Because it is used in food cans just like tin plate, it ironically is
classified as a tin mill product.
****
TIN PLATE
Thin sheet steel with a very thin coating of metallic tin. Tin plate is used primarily in canmaking.
****
TITANIUM
Titanium and its alloys have very high strength-to-weight ratios. At normal temperatures, they
have high resistance to corrosion. Used primarily in aerospace and chemical processing
applications.
****
TOLERANCES
A customer’s specifications can refer to dimensions or to the chemical properties of steel
ordered. The tolerance measures the allowable difference in product specifications between
what a customer orders and what the steel company delivers. There is no standard tolerance
because each customer maintains its own variance objective. Tolerances are given as the
specification, plus or minus an error factor; the smaller the range, the higher the cost.
****
TOLL PROCESSING
The act of processing steel for a fee (“toll”). Owners of the steel sheet may not possess the
facilities to perform needed operations on the material (or may not have the open capacity).
Therefore, another steel mill or service center will slit, roll, coat, anneal, or plate the metal for a
fee.
****
TOOL STEELS
Steels that are hardened for the use in the manufacture of tools and dies.
****
TON
Unit of measure for steel scrap and iron ore.
Gross Ton: 2,240 pounds.
Long (Net) Ton: 2,240 pounds.
Short (Net) Ton: 2,000 pounds. Normal unit of statistical raw material input and steel output in
the United States.
Metric Ton: 1,000 kilograms. 2,204.6 pounds or 1.102 short tons.
****
TUBING
When referring to OCTG, tubing is a separate pipe used within the casing to conduct the oil or
gas to the surface. Depending on conditions and well life, tubing may have to be replaced
during the operational life of a well.
****
TUNDISH
The shallow refractory-lined basin on top of the continuous caster. It receives the liquid steel
from the ladle, prior to the cast, allowing the operator to precisely regulate the flow of metal into
the mold.
****
TUNGSTEN MATERIALS 5
Include tungsten and tungsten carbide powders, sintered tungsten carbide products and cutting
tools for the metalworking, mining, oil and gas, and other industries requiring tools with extra
hardness.
****
TUNNEL FURNACE
Type of furnace whereby stock to be heated is placed upon cars, which are then pushed or
pulled slowly through the furnace.
****
TWIN MILLING 3
Grinds one or all six sides of a small square or rectangular piece of aluminum plate into close
tolerance.
****
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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