A metal slab containing excessive manganese metal is conveyed on rollers at POSCO’s metal mill in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of POSCO
GWANGYANG, South Jeolla Province — Purple-hot metal slabs heated to 1,200 levels Celsius have been conveyed on rollers under gigantic press machines at POSCO’s metal mill within the southern port metropolis of Gwangyang on Wednesday.
Excessive-temperature steam repeatedly got here out from the press machines every time they flattened the slabs to remodel them into metal plates.
These metal plates differ from typical merchandise made with carbon metal, in keeping with POSCO, as they comprise a excessive share of manganese, which makes them wear-resistant, non-magnetic and difficult even at extraordinarily low temperatures.
In 2013, the steelmaking unit of POSCO Group independently developed and commercialized excessive manganese metal (HMS), a metal alloy with a manganese content material of 10 to 30 %.
In comparison with nickel alloy metal having related properties, HMS is cheaper, as a result of the worldwide provide of manganese is extra steady than the provision of nickel, which is mined largely in restricted areas.
POSCO has produced merchandise made with the brand new materials at its Gwangyang plant, the world’s largest metal mill on reclaimed land alongside the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula.
„We began a research on HMS in 2010 to brace for the expansion of Chinese language opponents and rising demand for liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) within the wake of worldwide warming,“ an official from the steelmaker’s analysis institute advised reporters on the plant.
„Following a provisional approval for using our HMS for LNG tanks in ships in 2018, the Worldwide Maritime Group registered the usual of our HMS used for each LNG and ammonia tanks in ships final 12 months.“
With the registration that paved the best way for POSCO to increase using its HMS within the world market, the corporate has been attempting to provide the fabric to carmakers and protection firms.
At this second, nevertheless, HMS is used primarily to move and retailer LNG.
The No. 7 storage tank is beneath development at POSCO Worldwide’s LNG terminal in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of POSCO Worldwide
POSCO Group’s associates have, subsequently, collaborated with one another to strengthen the worldwide worth chain, embracing manufacturing, transportation, storage and gross sales of LNG by profiting from its HMS expertise.
Latest storage tanks of POSCO Worldwide’s LNG terminal situated subsequent to the Gwangyang plant have been additionally constructed with HMS.
The buying and selling and vitality affiliate of POSCO Group lined the inside of the terminal’s No. 5 and No. 6 LNG storage tanks with HMS, which may face up to a 6.5-magnitude earthquake, in addition to missile strikes. The No. 1 to 4 tanks have been constructed with 9 % nickel alloy metal.
On the No. 7 tank’s development website disclosed to reporters on Wednesday, employees have been welding HMS plates to the ability’s inside wall and ground.
„Once we constructed the No. 5 tank, it was troublesome to weld HMS,“ stated an official from POSCO E&C, the group’s development unit that constructed the LNG terminal’s storage tanks.
„As now we have been used to dealing with HMS, we improved the standard of welding.“
POSCO Worldwide additionally confirmed testing of an LNG service anchored in a dock hooked up to the terminal.
The ship constructed by Hanwha Ocean for H-Line Delivery was getting ready for a weeklong trial voyage after testing its pipes and tanks through the use of POSCO Worldwide’s services and LNG the corporate saved.
Close to the dock was the development website of one other dock.
POSCO Worldwide stated the No. 2 dock will be capable of accommodate bigger vessels, which have been in demand just lately, contemplating the hovering use of LNG.
