“GREEN” METALLURGY TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND PROCESSING OF AGRICULTURAL STEELS: FROM COKE-FREE PRODUCTION TO THERMO- MECHANICAL PROCESSING

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of innovative “green” metallurgy technologies and their role in the production of steels for agricultural applications. The relevance of the research is determined by the need of the agricultural sector for high-quality steels combining wear resistance, impact toughness, corrosion resistance, and technological properties (weldability, formability), as well as by current decarbonization challenges and the CBAM mechanism, which imposes strict requirements on the carbon footprint of products. It is shown that the transition from the traditional BF–BOF route to coke-free technologies based on direct reduced iron (DRI/HBI) with subsequent melting in electric arc furnaces (EAF) allows for an 80–95 % reduction of CO2 emissions and creates a new resource base for steels used in agriculture. Modern solutions for compact steel production based on casting–rolling modules such as CSP, ISP, and ESP, as well as Steckel mills, are discussed. These technologies integrate continuous casting and rolling into a single cycle, reduce energy consumption, lower production costs, and enable precise control of microstructure.It is demonstrated that the combination of such modules with thermo-mechanically controlled processing (TMCP) makes it possible to obtain ultrafine-grained structures with an optimal balance of strength and ductility. Special attention is paid to the role of microalloying (B, V, Nb, Ti), which promotes the formation of strengthening phases and increases the service life of components operating under severe conditions. The main groups of steels for the agricultural sector are systematized, including wear-resistant grades (Hardox, Armox, 30MnB5, 65G), low-alloy structural steels (09G2S, S355MC), martensitic and bainitic steels (40Cr, 30MnB5), tool steels (Kh12MF, U8A), and corrosion-resistant steels (AISI 304, 316). It is shown that the choice of production route determines not only the cost and ecological impact but also the ability of steel to withstand specific agricultural service conditions such as abrasive wear in soil, impact loads, and aggressive environments. Finally, the prospects of establishing metallurgy– agriculture clusters based on “green” technologies are emphasized, highlighting their capacity to meet the needs of post-war modernization and to expand Ukraine’s export opportunities in European markets.