Recent Trends and Future Tasks in Steelmaking Technology in Japan

摘要

Blast furnace based steel production will remain important in the world in future, according to analyses of the trend in steel production in over the last 30 years. An outline of the trends in Japanese Steelmaking technology during the past 10 years from the viewpoint of (1) improving the quality of steel, (2) greater productivity and (3) responding to environmental problems is discussed. Based on a recognition of these conditions, future technological tasks are reviewed and comments offered on new aspects such as iron making processes and continuous casting in near net shape. A brief comment on the role of the Japanese steel industry in the future are described.