The scrap metal's quality and composition impact the electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production process. High-quality scrap with less copper, tin, and plastic impurities helps in several ways: it increases melting efficiency by reducing energy, minimizes slag and inclusions, and enhances the process’s sustainability (Wang et al., 2017). Conversely, contaminated or mixed scrap increases refining and impurity removal needs, extends the furnace cycle and increases operational costs. Scrap consistency is also vital to stable melting and the steel's chemical composition. The quality and composition of the scrap directly affect the EAF process’s energy balance. Carbon-rich or residual alloying elements in the scrap increases the process’s energy demands and alters the furnace's thermal dynamics (Zhou & Chen, 2019). High copper levels, for example, can attract hot shortness, affecting the steel’s ductility and toughness.

Therefore, scrap blending and sorting are essential to furnace optimization and product uniformity. This reduces process variable count, which is important for efficient and sustainable steelmaking. Moreover, scrap pretreatment and separation increased scrap quality control and optimized EAF's energy efficiency. In the sorting and shredding process, sensor-based sorting and sensor-based sorting differentiate non-ferrous contaminants and segregate scrap based on material and size (Li et al., 2020). These actions improve melt, waste minimization, and environmental conservation. Therefore, scrap metal quality and composition affect energy efficiency, reliable processing, and final steel properties in EAF steelmaking.

References

Li, X., Wang, J., & Zhang, H. (2020). Advances in scrap pre-treatment technologies for electric arc furnace steelmaking. Journal of Cleaner Production, 246, 118982.

Wang, Y., Chen, J., & Liu, T. (2017). Impact of scrap quality on energy consumption and steel quality in electric arc furnace steelmaking. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, 48(4), 1978–1986.

Zhou, Q., & Chen, Y. (2019). Effects of scrap composition on refining reactions and steel quality in electric arc furnaces. Ironmaking & Steelmaking, 46(6), 529–537.

The quality and composition of scrap metal are among the most critical factors affecting efficiency, cost, and final steel quality in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) production.

Since EAF relies heavily on scrap as the primary feedstock, variations in its purity, size, density, and alloy content directly influence energy consumption, yield, and refining time.