Stainless Steel: With Special Reference to the Indian Scenario

Stainless steel is a term that refers to a family of corrosion-resistant alloy steels containing at least 10.5% chromium. This chromium content facilitates the formation of a thin, adherent, invisible layer of chromium oxide on the steel surface, which helps to resist corrosion. The corrosion resistance and other desirable properties of stainless steel can be enhanced by increasing the chromium content and adding other elements such as molybdenum, nickel, and nitrogen. Unlike carbon steel, stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily, which is where its name derives from. The chromium oxide layer is too thin to be seen, allowing the metal to maintain its shiny appearance. This protective layer is impervious to water and air, safeguarding the underlying metal. Due to its numerous advantages, stainless steel is widely used in various sectors, including building and construction, automotive and transportation, mechanical and heavy industries, consumer goods, medical applications, defence, space, and other critical areas.

In the February issue of the Iron & Steel Review, an enlightening article by N. M. Rao, Consultant (I&S) from Visakhapatnam, explores the intricacies of stainless steel, shedding light on its importance and applications.

“Global steel production will grow to 2.2 billion tonnes by 2050”

Primetals Technologies stands at the forefront of innovation, providing customised technologies, solutions, and services tailored specifically for metal producers. Driven by an unyielding commitment to innovation, the company focuses on developing sustainable methods for producing steel, aluminium, and other metals while relentlessly seeking out new opportunities within the industry.

The following is an edited excerpt from an interview of Dr. Jan Friedemann Plaul, Head and Senior Vice President of Iron & Steelmaking at Primetals Technologies, which appears in Iron & Steel Review’s February issue. In this conversation, he shares valuable perspectives on the company’s mission and ongoing efforts to redefine industry standards.

Thank you for joining us today. Let’s start by discussing the current global trends, such as digitalisation and decarbonisation, influencing the metals industry.

Thank you for having me. The impact of decarbonisation on the metals sector, particularly steelmaking, is profound. And as you know, of course, the global market is very indifferent in certain areas compared to India. To forecast which technologies will be in demand from our customers, we need to understand how the overall steel market is developing, and we have done various analyses to predict how the steel market is growing. While we anticipate that global steel production will grow from approximately 1.9 billion tonnes today to around 2.2 billion tonnes by 2050, the composition of how this steel is produced is set to change significantly.

That’s an interesting prediction. Can you elaborate on how the methods of steel production will evolve?

Certainly. Currently, about 71% of steel is produced via the blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace (BOF) routes, while around 27% is created using electric arc furnaces (EAFs) utilising mainly scrap and DRI (21% Scrap-based, 6% DRI based). By 2050, we expect the share of scrap-based EAF production to increase significantly from currently 21% up to 33% of the overall steel production. The availability of scrap is a crucial factor – return scrap typically enters the market 30 to 50 years after its initial use, which means as time progresses, we will see an influx of scrap from older steel products. The available scrap amount will increase by over 70% from today’s 750 to over 1,250 million tonnes in 2050. The blast furnace route is likely to decline, dropping from around 70% to 35%. This shift is driven not only by resource availability but also by increasing environmental regulations and the push towards greener steel production technologies. We expect that direct reduction methods combined with EAFs and new Electric Smelting Technologies will be the most promising pathways going forward. DRI-based steel production will increase from today’s level of approx. 5% to 27% in 2050 – utilising conventional EAF technology (13%) but also new Electric Smelting Technologies (14%) operated with low-grade DRI, which are currently under development.

NMDC R&D Centre Signs an MoU with RDCIS, SAIL, to Strengthen the Steel Industry

NMDC R&D Centre and the Research & Development Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCIS) at SAIL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage their collective expertise for the advancement of the steel industry.

The MoU was signed by M. Jaypal Reddy, ED (RP & RED) at NMDC, and P. Pathak, CGM, RDCIS at SAIL, in the presence of Vinay Kumar, Director (Technical) of NMDC. This collaboration aims to drive innovation in mineral processing and coal utilisation, focusing on developing advanced beneficiation techniques to upgrade low/lean-grade iron ore and enhance coal processing efficiency – both critical for strengthening India’s steel sector.

Under this agreement, NMDC R&D Centre and RDCIS, SAIL, will undertake key initiatives, including the dry beneficiation of iron ore and limestone, improving coal flowability to reduce chute jamming, and conducting research on coal carbonisation and testing. Additionally, both organisations will organise technology awareness programmes to promote knowledge sharing and advancements in the industry.

Speaking about the collaboration, Vinay Kumar stated, “NMDC remains dedicated to its commitment to nation-building. To achieve the target of 300 MT crude steel production by 2030, the utilisation of low- and lean-grade iron ore is essential to meet raw material requirements. This MoU will play a pivotal role in turning this vision into reality.”

As India’s leading iron ore producer, NMDC aims to enhance resource efficiency, improve operational processes, and contribute to the growth of India’s steel sector through this strategic partnership.

Hengyang Valin Steel Pipe Awards Danieli with a New Challenging Project

Hengyang Valin Steel Pipe, a Chinese seamless-pipe steel manufacturer, has selected Danieli’s FQM® - Fine Quality Mill technology for its new hot-rolling production line. To be installed in Hengyang, Hunan province, the line will have a production capacity of 800,000 tonnes per year of extra-large diameter seamless tubes.

With this new investment, Hengyang Valin aims to produce seamless pipes with diameters ranging from 323.8 mm to 610 mm and wall thicknesses from 7.2 mm to 65 mm, catering to the energy and infrastructure sectors in both domestic and international markets.

The high-tech equipment from Danieli will include a cone-type piercing mill and an FQM-based retained mandrel mill, along with a newly patent-pending extracting and sizing mill. The extracting and sizing mill will feature a 3-roll design with a single drive and will be equipped with fixed and adjustable stands, allowing for alternate bilateral changeover, which enhances technological and operational advantages.

The new production line is expected to be commissioned in the summer of 2026 and will be run by Danieli Automation’s process control and systems.