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alloy steel
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Steel that contains added materials that change the property of the metal. Common alloy elements include chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and nickel.
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annealing
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The steady heating of a metal at a certain temperature followed by a gradual cooling process. Annealing can be done to restore ductility.
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basic oxygen furnace
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A type of furnace used during the steelmaking process that injects pure oxygen into a batch of pig iron and other materials to burn the contents and produce steel.
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big-end down mold
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A type of ingot mold that is wider at the base and narrower at the top. This shape makes it easier to remove the ingot once it cools.
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billet
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A small, semi-finished piece of metal that is rectangular, circular, or square in shape. Billets are smaller than blooms.
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blast furnace
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A tall furnace built with steel and brick that is used to produce pig iron from the original iron ore.
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bloom
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A semi-finished piece of metal that is rectangular or square in shape. Blooms are larger than billets.
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carburizing
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A surface hardening method that heats a metal within a carbon-rich environment to increase carbon levels on the metal surface.
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cast
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To pour a molten metal into a mold.
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charge
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The mix of material that is placed in a furnace.
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coke
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A carbon-based fuel used to heat the contents of a blast furnace.
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cold drawing
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A cold-working process that pulls a piece of metal through a smaller opening to compress and lengthen the metal. Cold drawing removes the scale that develops from hot working and creates accurate stock sizes.
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cold rolling
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A cold-working squeezing process that passes a flat piece of metal between two rolls to flatten and lengthen the metal.
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cold working
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The shaping of metal at temperatures much lower than the metal's molten state. Steel is often cold worked at room temperature.
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continuous casting
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The process of pouring molten metal into a mold that creates a long, continuous slab of metal, which is then separated into pieces at the end of the casting process.
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die
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A component with specific dimensions used to shape metal that is forced through or against it.
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ductility
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The ability of a metal to be drawn, stretched, or formed without breaking.
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electric arc furnace
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A type of furnace used during the steelmaking process that shoots electric arcs between electrodes to burn a combination of pig iron and other materials to produce steel.
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electrical arc
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A strong and sudden bolt of electricity.
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hot rolling
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A process that passes metal heated at elevated temperatures between two rolls to flatten and lengthen the metal. Hot rolling leaves a tough scale on the metal.
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hot working
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The shaping of metal at temperatures close to the metal's molten state. Steel is typically hot worked at temperatures approximately 1300°F (700°C).
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impurities
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An unwanted substance that reduces the quality of a material.
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ingot
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The first solidified piece of steel from which other parts are made.
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ingot casting
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The process of pouring molten metal into separate molds until the metal solidifies into ingots.
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ingot mold
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A container in which molten steel is poured that is designed to hold the steel until it solidifies.
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iron ore
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The natural form of iron, which is a combination of iron metal with other minerals and rocks.
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limestone
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A sedimentary rock that is used in blast furnaces to remove impurities from iron ore.
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machinability
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The ability of a metal to be shaped by machine processes such as milling, grinding, turning, or drilling.
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manufacturing
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The process of producing and shaping a product on a large scale, often through the use of large machinery.
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molten
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A metal in its liquid state.
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pickling
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The soaking of metal in an acid to remove the hardened scale that develops from hot working. Steel is often pickled before it is cold worked.
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pig iron
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The processed iron that is poured from a blast furnace. Pig iron still contains impurities.
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raw material
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An unprocessed material that has not been manufactured.
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slab
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a flat, semi-finished piece of metal that is at least twice as wide as it is thick.
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slag
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The rock-like waste that separates from pig iron and is removed from a blast furnace.
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solidify
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To change from a liquid to a solid.
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stainless steel
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An alloy steel that is designed to resist corrosion.
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steel
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A metal consisting of iron and carbon, usually with small amounts of manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon as well.
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steelmaking process
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The process used to make steel from pig iron and other materials.
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stock
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The raw material from which products are made through manufacturing.
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strand casting
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Another term for continuous casting.
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tolerance
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The unwanted but acceptable deviation from the desired dimension. Accurate dimensions require tighter tolerances.
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tool steel
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A type of steel designed with high wear resistance, toughness, and strength. Tool steels are used to make cutting tools, dies, and fixtures.
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tundish
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The device located at the top of a continuous caster that regulates the flow of molten steel.
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