Seminar on 'USE OF NIOBIUM MICRO ALLOYED STEELS IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR'

- Conducted By Indian Association of Structural Engineers & Consulting Engineers Association of India

- On March 9, 2010 at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

New Delhi – March 5, 2010 Indian Association of Structural Engineers (IASE) along with Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), Ferro Tech India and CBMM Brazil is organizing a seminar on "Use of Niobium micro alloyed steels in construction sector in India" on March 9 at India Habitat Centre.

World wide use of Niobium micro alloyed steels, which are lighter and have more load bearing Strength has become very popular in the construction and automobile sector. During the seminar Leading specialists in the field of Niobium micro alloyed steels for the construction sector will present papers on the use of such steels in construction.

Over the last five years, there has been a massive surge in the use of Niobium micro alloyed steels in the construction sector. This is because the use of such steels results in a substantial reduction in the consumption of steel and concrete without compromising upon the safety and security of the structure. In fact, the use of such steels results in an enhanced life span of the structure. Needless to say, use of Niobium micro alloyed steels help in huge cost reductions in construction.

Niobium is increasingly being used as a micro alloying element in the production of High Strength Low Alloy steels. The application of Niobium in steel today is relevant in the production of:

- API quality steels (high strength line pipes and oil country tubular goods)
- Automotive grade steels - HSLA, IF, IF HSLA, Ultra Low Carbon, Dual Phase, Bake Hardening, Transformation Induced Plasticity and Twinning Induced Plasticity.
- Construction grade steels - TMT bars, sections, shipping quality plates, high pressure & temperature applications such as boilers and gas containers.
- Stainless steels - Ferritic, Austenitic, PH grades etc.
- Steel castings & forgings.

Niobium improves the strength and toughness balance of steel by grain refining. It has a high affinity for carbon, forming carbides and carbonitrides. In steelmaking, carbon and niobium levels are matched with processing conditions to achieve the desired level of properties. Niobium micro alloyed steels also have better formability and weldability besides providing a better surface finish to steel. An important secondary role for niobium is to provide creep strength in super alloys operating under high temperature conditions such as boilers, aircraft gas turbine engines and the such.

Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao of Brazil are the leading manufacturers of Ferro Niobium used in the production of Niobium microalloyed steels.

Source : Equity Bulls

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