A Elevation : The top level of the boiler firebox where four oil guns are located. The oil guns are used to produce steam and maintain pressure while the boiler is on oil fire.
A, B, C Valves : Automatic steam regulator valves on the junction header.
(Also called boiler steam pressure control valves).
A. G. C. Cylinders : (Automatic Gauge Control) Large hydraulic cylinders used to apply corrective force to the back-up rolls in order to maintain an even gauge on the strip steel being rolled.
A. G. C. Pressure : The three hydraulic pressures that the A.G.C. system supplies: They are P1 - 4100 psi, P2 - 850 psi, and P3 130 psi.
A. G. C. System : (Automatic Gauge Control) Hydraulic or electric system that supplies the force to the A.G.C. roll force cylinders.
AC : One of the two types of electricity. It stands for alternating current. In alternating current, the current periodically changes direction and magnitude in the circuit.
Accumulator Bladder : A neoprene bag that holds the nitrogen in a gas charged accumulator.
Accumulator : A device used to dampen pressure pulsations in the hydraulic and morgoil systems.
Acetyl Tributyl Citrate : One of the lubricating oils generally applied on tin Mill Products (tin plate, TFS-chrome/chrome oxide coated steel, and blackplate).
Actual Weight : Also the scale weight. The customer buys by the actual (scale) weight of the steel. The theoretical weight is used in estimating, however, it is not to be used for billing.
Actuators : The self contained hydraulic systems that run the heat covers over the finishing mill steel segments that are bolted to the reel mandrel to increase their diameter so that large (24" ID) coils can be run.
Adapters : Steel segments that are bolted to the reel mandrel to increase their diameter so that large (24" ID) coils can be run.
Age Hardening : A process of aging that increases hardness and strength and ordinarily decreases ductility. Age hardening usually follows rapid cooling or cold working. Takes effect on all cold rolled sheets in storage except fully aluminum killed.
Aging : A change in the properties of certain metal and alloys (such as steel) that occurs at ambient or moderately elevated temperatures after a hot working heat treatment or cold working operation. Typical properties impacted are: hardness, yield strength, tensile strength, ductility, impact value, formability, magnetic properties, etc. See also Non-aging.
Agitator : A device used in the mix tanks to help dissolve the chemicals.
Air Ejector Pump : A pump that sends river water to oil coolers and air ejectors, and serves as an emergency feed to air ejector.
Air Ejector : A system that creates a vacuum in the exhaust line with the aid of condensing steam.
Air Heaters : Bank of boiler tubes located in the exhaust gas ductwork which preheats the incoming combustion air by transferring heat from the exhaust gases passing through them to the incoming air passing around them. Preheating the air reduces boiler fuel requirements.
Air-ways : Air passages that regulate combustion air to the oil guns.
AISI : See American Iron and Steel Institute.
Alkyd : A type of resin made from a polyhydroxy alcohol combined chemically with the acids of various oils. They are particularly adapted for use where hardness and high gloss are required. Used largely for outside decoration.
Aluminum Killed Steel : (Special Killed) Steel deoxidized with aluminum in order to reduce the oxygen content to a minimum so that no reaction occurs between carbon and oxygen during solidification.
American Iron and Steel Institute : (AISI) A non-profit association of North American producers, suppliers to and users of steel. It's mission is to promote steel as the material of choice and to enhance the competitiveness of its members and the North American steel industry.
Amphenol : A type of electrical connector (male or female plug) used to connect a device to power sources and or an input signal source.
Amps : Unit of measurement of current.
Anneal Cycle Code : Steel heat specification unique to the annealing base being charged.
Anneal Cycle No. : Heating requirements for the metallurgical specifications.
Anneal : A process, consisting of heating to and holding at a suitable temperature followed by cooling at a suitable rate, used primarily to soften metallic materials, such as steel. This process also simultaneously produces desired changes in microstructure, as in other properties, such as improvement of mechanical or electrical properties, increase in stability in dimensions, facilitation of cold work, etc. Also see Continuous Anneal and Batch Anneal.
Annealing : See Anneal.
Anodes : Tin bars that are put in the plater cells and are important to the plating process in the Tin Mill.
Apron : Device that the molten slag flows across on its way from the spout to the doughnut. It is cooled by water spray.
Accumulator Pressure Testing Valve : (APTV) A device used to measure the amount of nitrogen in a gas charged accumulator.
Ash Box : Brick lined collection point for slag and ash.
Ash Tank : Holding tank for ashes. The tank is located outside the boiler house. The ashes are dumped once or twice a week, depending on the ash accumulation.
Askania : 1.) A strip-centering device consisting of two electric eyes to ensure that the strip will stay centered during re-coiling. 2) Device with an electronic eye which is associated with tracking of strip going through the side trimmers.
ASTM : American Standard of Testing and Materials. A non-profit organization that provides a forum for producers, users, ultimate consumers, and those having a general interest (representatives of government and academia) to meet on common ground and write standards for materials, products, systems, and services.
ASTM Standards : A series of documents, approved and published by ASTM, that include specifications or requirements, practices, guides, test methods, etc., covering various materials, products, systems or services. In the steel industry, the steel related ASTM standards are used by both the producers and users to ensure that a steel product or service meets all intended requirements. See American Society for Testing and Materials.
American Standard of Testing and Materials : See ASTM.
ATBC : See Acetyl Tributyl Citrate.
Atmosphere Valve : A valve that is located in the exhaust line of a turbine and is designed to open up and get a positive pressure in the exhaust line.
Atomizing Steam : Low pressure steam which is introduced to the oil gun to help atomize the oil, to assist the burning process, and to keep the oil gun from plugging.
Attemperator : Header connecting the primary and finishing superheaters into which feed water is sprayed to control the final temperature of the steam leaving the boiler.
Automatic : Describes the status of the operation when the O2 pulpit has control and the boiler logic has control.
Auxiliary Air : A controller for auxiliary air dampers on boilers. For proper combustion on oil fire.
Auxiliary Hydraulic System : Hydraulic system that supplies the force to run the various hydraulic cylinders associated with the finishing mill which are not taken care of by the A.G.C. or C.V.C. Hydraulic systems.
Auxiliary Oil Pump : A steam or electric pump that maintains oil pressure on the controls and the bearings of a turbo blower when it is not up to maximum speed.
Auxiliary Pump : Pump on the auxiliary system which supplies the pressure for the system.
AW - 100 : The hydraulic oil used in all the hydraulic systems located in the finishing mill oil cellar and the furnace hydraulic system.
Alloy Steel : Steel with modified properties that is made by combining iron with one or more elements in addition to carbon. Alloys change the properties of the steel making it, for example, harder, more formable, etc., depending on the combination and amounts of alloys used. An iron-based mixture is considered to be an alloy steel when manganese is greater than 1.65%, silicon over 0.5%, copper above 0.6%, or other minimum quantities of alloying elements such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, or tungsten are present. An enormous variety of distinct properties can be created for the steel by substituting these elements in the recipe.
Arbitrage : Selling a commodities contract in one market and buying a contract for the same commodity in another market. For example, selling an LME contract and then buying a Comex contract, or visa versa.
Agglomerating Processes : Fine particles of limestone (flux) and iron ore are difficult to handle and transport because of dusting and decomposition, so the powdery material usually is processed into larger pieces. The raw material's properties determine the technique that is used by mills.SINTER Baked particles that stick together in roughly one-inch chunks. Normally used for iron ore dust collected from the blast furnaces.
PELLETS Iron ore or limestone particles are rolled into little balls in a balling drum and hardened by heat.
BRIQUETTES Small lumps are formed by pressing material together. Hot Iron Briquetting (HBI) is a concentrated iron ore substitute for scrap for use in electric furnaces.
Alloy Surcharge : The addition to the producer's selling price included in order to offset raw material cost increases caused by higher alloy prices.
Austenitic : The largest category of stainless steel, accounting for about 70% of all production. The austenitic class offers the most resistance to corrosion in the stainless group, owing to its substantial nickel content and higher levels of chromium. Austenitic stainless steels are hardened and strengthened through cold working (changing the structure and shape of steel by applying stress at low temperature) instead of by heat treatment. Ductility (ability to change shape without fracture) is exceptional for the austenitic stainless steels. Excellent weldability and superior performance in very low-temperature services are additional features of this class. Applications include cooking utensils, food processing equipment, exterior architecture, equipment for the chemical industry, truck trailers, and kitchen sinks. The two most common grades are type 304 (the most widely specified stainless steel, providing corrosion resistance in numerous standard services) and type 316 (similar to 304 with molybdenum added, to increase opposition to various forms of deterioration).
Automatic Gauge Control : Using hydraulic roll force systems, steelmakers have the ability to control precisely their steel sheet's gauge (thickness) while it is traveling at more than 50 miles per hour through the cold mill. Using feedback or feed-forward systems, a computer's gap sensor adjusts the distance between the reduction rolls of the mill 50-60 times per second. These adjustments prevent the processing of any off-gauge steel sheet.
Auction : A selling method available under the MetalSite Catalog whereby Sellers offer products for sale in a bidding process. Today MetalSite offers a sealed bid Auction only.
