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Abstract
Iron is utilised by mankind since thousands of years and the present day world wide production of about 1.5 billon tons of steel makes the latter to one of the most important and irreplaceable industrial products. This course will communicate the relevant solid-liquid-vapor reactions along the production route of an integrated steel plant as an example for applied mineralogy.
Objective
This course will put emphasis on applied mineralogy and show how concepts, familiar to Earth scientists, are being applied to industrial processes. Integral part of this course is a visit to the UNESCO world cultural heritage site "Völklingen Ironworks" The excursion will take place on the third to fourth day with one overnight stay.
Content
The course will cover the following topics: - Basic information on the steelmaking industry - Pre-blast furnace processing of ores, coals and additives - Melting and reduction in the blast furnace - The "Basic Oxygen Furnace": de-carburisation, and the conversion from "hot metal" towards steel - Secondary steelmaking: de-oxidation and non-metallic inclusions - By-products: Chemistry, properties and applications of blast furnace and steelmaking slags - Chemistry and properties of refractory materials - The role of silicate liquids during casting steel - Industry excursion to an active steel producing site
Resources
Lecture Notes
Course material will be made available on Moodle.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Every two years
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 22
- Signup End
- 27.03.2026
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
The Mineralogy of Steelmaking / Steel Plant Visit
Does not take place this semester.
Block Course
|
No time listed | 16 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Electives (Courses can be chosen from the complete offerings of the ETH Zurich and University of Zurich (according to prior agreement with the MSc Committee).)
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Doctorate Materials Science (Further information at: )
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