• These steels are melted in an electric arc furnace from scrap that is carefully selected to meet specification requirements.
• The molten steel is then refined in a ladle metallurgy station which includes a ladle furnace. A ladle degasser is available for removing undesirable gases when required.  
  • High cleanliness levels are available. When specified, levels to 0.001% maximum sulfur, 0.005% maximum phosphorus and 0.002% maximum oxygen can be achieved for certain grades. The lowest sulfur levels are achieved through Fineline� processing, which includes calcium treatment for inclusion shape control.
  • Improved accuracy and precision of chemical composition is achieved, making it possible to offer the stringent carbon equivalent (CE) controls required by our customers.
  • Microalloying elements (B, Ti, Cb, V) are not intentionally added to PVQ steels, unless required by customer specification. This practice addresses industry concerns about the unpredictable response of hard heat affected zones from welds containing these elements during post weld heat treatment (PWHT) of fabricated process vessels. However, when specifically approved by our customer, microalloying additions will be considered to achieve special properties.
• These steels are poured into ingots or continuously cast into slabs, depending on plate size and weight.
• Based on final product dimensions PVQ steels are rolled on our 110-, 140- or 206-inch wide rolling mills.
• Depending on specification requirements, PVQ steels can be heat treated in one of many car-bottom or continuous furnaces. If the steel is intended for hot forming applications, BLP will perform a capability test on laboratory heat treated samples from the as-rolled plates.

Bethlehem Lukens Plate Products

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