Improving Occupational Safety and Health in the Processing of Metallurgical Waste and Features of their Microstructure Transformation

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of the alloy obtained by reductive melting with the use of waste from the production of high-alloy steels and alloys have been studied. This is necessary to determine the technological aspects that reduce the loss of alloying components during the production and use of the alloying alloy. The research results indicate that the alloy treasure is represented by iron phases with the content of alloying elements as substitution atoms. The proportion of residual carbon, which was part of the carbide component and the residual unproduced reducing agent, provided the necessary reducibility during the use of the alloy. The microstructure of the alloying alloy was characterized by the presence of phase formations that differed in shape, size and chemical composition. The content of Ni in the studied areas of different phases varied in the range of 1.28–32.62 % wt., Cr-0.33–46.22 % wt., W-0.00–20.43 % wt., Mo – 0 .00–10.78 % wt. Mo, W, Nb were more concentrated in individual particles, which probably had a carbide nature. The research identified new technological aspects of processing high-alloy man-made waste to obtain the resource-saving alloying alloy with the possibility of replacing part of the standard ferroalloys in steelmaking. Indicators of the obtained alloy allow to smelt grades of alloy steels when replacing part of standard ferroalloys. Production and use of alloying alloy eliminates the need for storage of fine oxide metallurgical waste on the territory of enterprises. This allows to improve the sanitary conditions of workers to increase the level of safety of residents of the surrounding areas without additional costs for the maintenance of waste storage sites.