Steel refining material for reductive steel refining and granulation method thereof

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a granulating method of steel refining material for reductive steel refining, comprising the steps of: mixing at least steelmaking dust, aluminum ash and a resin component of a toner binder so as to form a mixture; and compressing and granulating the mixture so as to obtain a granulated steel refining material, wherein the resin component comprises an additive for enhanced lubricity and flowability, and no external heating is applied in the step of mixing and the step of compressing and granulating.

1 . A granulating method of steel refining material for reductive steel refining, comprising the steps of: 
 mixing at least steelmaking dust, aluminum ash and a resin component of a toner binder so as to form a mixture; and    compressing and granulating the mixture so as to obtain a granulated steel refining material,    wherein the resin component comprises an additive for enhanced lubricity and flowability, and no external heating is applied in the step of mixing and the step of compressing and granulating.    
     
     
         2 . A granulating method of steel refining material according to  claim 1 , wherein the steel refining material is charged into electric furnace or ladle furnace so as to collect metal and metal oxide from the steelmaking dust.  
     
     
         3 . A granulating method of steel refining material according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of mixing comprises a step of kneading the steelmaking dust, the aluminum ash and the resin component.  
     
     
         4 . A granulating method of steel refining material according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of kneading and the step of compressing and granulating generate heat, the heat generated in either step allows the resin component to bind the mixture.  
     
     
         5 . A granulating method of steel refining material according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin component is obtainable from a developer for electrophotography, and the step of mixing is a step of mixing the steelmaking dust, the aluminium ash and the developer containing the resin component.  
     
     
         6 . A granulating method of steel refining material according to  claim 5 , wherein the developer is an off-specification product obtained in a process of developer manufacturing, or a recycled developer.  
     
     
         7 . A granulating method of steel refining material according to  claim 1 , wherein heating at 50° C. to 200° C. is applied in a subsequent step of the compressing and granulating, so as to impart high crush strength and low powder content to the granulated steel refining material.  
     
     
         8 . A granulating method of steel refining material according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressing is carried out by using a high pressure molder in the step of compressing and granulating.  
     
     
         9 . A refining material for reductive refining of steel, comprising: 
 steelmaking dust;    aluminum ash; and    a resin component of a toner binder wherein the resin component comprises an additive for enhanced lubricity and flowability.    
     
     
         10 . A refining material according to  claim 9 , wherein the resin component is obtainable from a developer for electrophotography, and the refining material comprises the steelmaking dust, the aluminum ash and the developer containing the resin component.  
     
     
         11 . A refining material according to  claim 10 , wherein the developer is an off-specification product obtainable in a process of developer manufacturing, or a recycled developer.  
     
     
         12 . A refining material according to  claim 10 , wherein the content of steelmaking dust is from 30% by weight to 80% by weight, the content of aluminum ash is from 10% by weight to 50% by weight, and the content of developer is from 2% by weight to 20% by weight.  
     
     
         13 . A refining material according to  claim 9 , wherein the content of additive is from 0.01 parts by weight to 40 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin component.  
     
     
         14 . A refining material according to  claim 9 , wherein the additive is at least one of metal oxide, metal salt of higher fatty acid, higher fatty acid amide, and wax.  
     
     
         15 . A refining material according to  claim 14 , wherein the additive comprises zinc stearate.  
     
     
         16 . A refining material according to  claim 9 , wherein the steelmalking dust contains metal and metal oxide, the metal and metal oxide are collectable by charging the refining material into electric furnace or ladle furnace.  
     
     
         17 . A refining material according to  claim 9 , wherein the refining material is obtainable from the process comprising the steps of: 
 mixing at least the steelmaking dust, the aluminum ash and the resin component so as to form a mixture; and    compressing and granulating the mixture so as to obtain the granulated steel refining material,    wherein no external heating is applied in the step of mixing and the step of compressing and granulating.    
     
     
         18 . A refining material according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of mixing comprises a step of kneading the steelmaking dust, the aluminum ash and the resin component.  
     
     
         19 . A refining material according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of kneading and the step of compressing and granulating generate heat, the heat generated in either step allows the resin component to bind the mixture.  
     
     
         20 . A refining material according to  claim 17 , wherein heating at 50° C. to 200° C. is applied in a subsequent step of the compressing and granulating.