Raw material control
The first stage of quality control concerns raw materials. In the case of electric steelworks, the quality of the steel depends to a large extent on the quality of the scrap metal used. Incoming materials are sorted, graded and inspected to ensure they are free from contamination and unwanted components. This step is essential for producing steel with the required properties.
Chemical analyses during production
During the smelting and refining stages, quality control is based on continuous monitoring of the chemical composition of the molten steel. Samples are taken from the molten bath at regular intervals and analysed to determine the percentage of the main elements, such as carbon, manganese, silicon and other alloying elements.
Based on the results of these analyses, operators intervene in real time by adding ferroalloys or other corrective agents, with the aim of precisely adjusting the chemical composition. This process ensures that the steel meets the required specifications.
Accurate control at this stage is crucial, as it determines the final characteristics of the material: following subsequent cooling in the continuous casting process, the resulting billets must possess chemical and mechanical properties that are perfectly aligned with the standards required for the various applications.
Mechanical testing of the finished product
Following the smelting stage and subsequent cooling in a continuous casting process, the billets are processed in rolling mills to produce finished products such as ribbed round bars, in coils or wire rod. At this stage, it is essential to maintain continuous process control in order to prevent any deviations from the critical parameters that affect product quality.
During hot rolling, key parameters such as temperatures, pressures, cross-sectional dimensions and the ovality of the material are monitored in real time from the control consoles. This system enables rapid intervention in the event of deviations, ensuring process stability and product conformity.
Once the rolling process is complete, laboratory tests are carried out on the finished product using samples representative of the batch. These tests mainly comprise destructive mechanical tests, geometric measurements and visual inspections.
