Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Develops New Steel Production Technology

Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry started preparation for the steel production technology development project, which is based on the third-period science and technology master plan for fiscal 2006-2010 ending March 2011 by Japanese government. Ministry will include 4 projects into the budget for fiscal 2007, main research theme of which are bony material and environment-responsive innovative steel making process, innovative welding and joining technique, elucidation of fracture damage mechanism and material control technology by the leading edgy controlled forging and manufacturing. Ministry advances the project such as long-lived steel material or energy saving by the innovative steel manufacturing technology.Ministry would develop new blast furnace technology for the degradation of raw materials such as coking coal or iron ore as for the bony material and environment-responsive innovative steel making process. The new process allows reduction in lower temperature and lager amount by catalyst influence of iron and advances energy saving.The innovative welding and joining technique would strength joint for the high-strength steel products. The technique would prevent degradation of steel products from welding heat by control of steel tissue and alloy element. Ministry would also develop the technology for diagnosing of steel life and the extending of the steel products life by the elucidation of fracture damage mechanism.Ministry would build the steel material control technology by the leading edgy controlled forging and manufacturing which gives better strength or cut performance to parts for automobile, machine or aircraft by the controlling forged steel products.