Theme I: Production and characterization of iron ore sinters for hydrogen reduction blast furnace
Chairpersons: R. Murao (Nippon Steel), Y. Iwami (JFE)

CO₂ emission reduction for steelmaking process is an urgent task. Currently, research and development are carried out on low-reducing agent ratio (RAR) operations by significantly increasing hydrogen concentration in the blast furnace. To accomplish even higher hydrogen concentration operations, high-quality sinters with lower reduction degradation and higher reducibility than present ones are required to maintain the gas permeability in a blast furnace. In this session, we focus on the microstructures of sinters, particularly, the multi-component calcium ferrite (CF) phase which is suited to higher hydrogen concentration operation, and discuss the compositions and crystalline structures of multi-component CF, and the relationship between microstructures of sinters and reduction degradation and reducibility.

Theme II: Development of hydrogen reduction technology to realize carbon neutrality in Japanese steel industry
Chairpersons: Y. Kishimoto (JFE), Y. Ujisawa (Nippon Steel), N. Ishiwata (JFE)

Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, Kobe Steel, and JRCM organized “Hydrogen Steelmaking Consortium” and tackling on hydrogen reduction technology together with many research institutes. In the development, not only hydrogen reduction to contribute sustainable society, but also realizing high-grade steel production using low-grade ore is also required. Innovation and store of numerous results in various fields related to high-temperature processes is necessary. Then, we are planning a symposium to introduce the national action toward 2050 carbon neutrality, project and current progress, and to discuss research and prospects about various items related with hydrogen reduction.

Theme III: The development of emerging and advanced seed technologies through the 'Steel carbon neutral research grant'
Chairpersons: Y. Kishimoto (JFE), T. Hoshino (The Univ. of Tokyo), H. Murakami (Science Tokyo)

ISIJ established the 'Steel Carbon Neutral (CN) Study Committee' in the fiscal year 2022. This committee serves as a forum to discuss scenarios for achieving 'carbon neutrality' in the steelmaking process without losing industrial competitiveness, and it continues its activities.
Under the 'Steel Carbon Neutral (CN) Study Committee,' a new 'Steel Carbon Neutral Research Grant' system has been established to promote fundamental research and to discover emerging and advanced seed technologies that contribute to carbon neutrality in the steel industry. 3 years have passed since the start of the grant in 2022. At this symposium, we will report on our achievements and introduce new and advanced seed technologies developed through research grants aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in the steel industry.

Theme IV: Equipment diagnostics in ironworks using 3D area sensing
Chairpersons: I. Ishii (Hiroshima Univ.), D. Imanishi (JFE)

To achieve stable operation and reduce human-resources for maintenance and condition monitoring for large-scale infrastructure in ironworks, it is necessary to develop cyber-physical integrated monitoring technology. This technology involves the spatial visualization of structural deterioration through 3D digital reproduction, which integrates the spatial measurement of both vibration and strain distribution over a wide area (3D area sensing) with its simulations. The latest research regarding wide-area cyber-physical monitoring technology will be shared and discussed in this symposium.

Theme V: Novel materials processing for the innovative plate rolling
Chairpersons: J. Yanagimoto (The Univ. of Tokyo), Y. Nakamura (Nippon Steel)

Thermo-mechanical control process and controlled rolling had been introduced in the plate rolling in the 1970s, and high-strength, ductility and arrest-resistant steel plates had been developed. Research and development of materials and that of rolling/cooling had been synchronized, and plate rolling had been emerging along with the progress of material science and rolling/cooling technologies. The innovations undergo even now very rapidly.
This discussion session will review the past research and development related to plate rolling and the progress nowadays. Also, the session will try to foresee the trend in the future.