Adjusting trace element limits while maintaining properties (SPÅRA)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | SWERIM AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 2 800 000 |
| Project duration | September 2022 - September 2025 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme for Metallic material |
| Call | Sustainable metal industry - Efficient material flows |
Important results from the project
The overall goal was to increase the understanding of trace elements in less alloyed steel grades. This has been achieved by testing 4 different types of industrial materials with different trace element variations. Some properties show positive effects of copper, others negative or none at all. Continued work in follow-up projects includes studies of negative effects, such as sheet metal surfaces, bendability performance, and fatigue performance.
Expected long term effects
The long-term effect of increased understanding is increased acceptance of trace elements in steel. This is expected to contribute positively to circularity through increased scrap use and reduced dilution of pure iron. With increased scrap use, trace element levels also increase continuously. In a time of green transition with increased competition for scrap, this is also expected to be critical for the Swedish steel industry.
Approach and implementation
The results are based on the production of a total of 13 lab ingots (12 kg), 6 pilot ingots (270 kg) and 2 industrial trials with full-scale melts containing trace elements. Testing has been done on mechanical properties (tensile test, toughness, hardness, bendability, fatigue) and structure (hardenability, structural characterization, transformation temperature), as well as surface studies. The work has been carried out through collaboration in the consortium.