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Sumitomo Metals Receives Double Awards from the Japan Institute of Metals

On September 25, 2010, Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo Metals) and Sumitomo Metals (Naoetsu), Ltd. (Sumikin Noaetsu) received the 33rd Technical Development Awards (*) from the Japan Institute of Metals for the following two accomplishments:
      1. Development of resource-saving, high-strength electromagnetic steel “SXRC” (Sumitomo Metals)
      2. Development of heat resistant stainless steel sheet “NAR-AH-7” for advanced high-temperature heat exchangers (Sumitomo Metals and Sumikin

          Naoetsu)

Details of Award

1. Development of high strength electromagnetic steel sheet “SXRC” of resource-saving design
＜Problems＞
Electromagnetic steel sheet, used in the iron core of motors and transformers, has high growth potential as it can contribute to growing global environmental and energy problems. The following two properties of the electro magnetic sheet are particularly important to be applied to a growing segment of motors.
The first is to reduce energy loss, called core loss, caused by eddy currents generated within the iron core and to increase magnetic strength (magnetic flux density).
The second is to have higher strength in order to prevent deformation or fatigue fracture in the motors that rotate at high speed.
The conventional method to strengthen the sheet and simultaneously reduce core loss was to add massive amounts of alloy elements such as manganese and nickel. However, this method entails a problem of increasing costs due to lower productivity when rolling high-strength materials, in addition to the cost of alloys.

＜Solutions＞
Sumitomo Metals has solved the problems by means of developing high-strength electromagnetic steel, designated SXRC, which contains a tiny amount of niobium. In addition, its microstructure can be controlled when annealing, with Sumitomo Metals’ original technology. By doing so, high strength can be achieved, while the cost of the alloy is reduced, and productivity is not sacrificed.
Sumitomo Metals’ resource-saving, high-strength electromagnetic steel SXRC is expected to be adopted to future mainstream hybrid cars and other environmentally friendly vehicles and to contribute to solve global warming and energy problems.

2. Development of heat resistant stainless steel sheet “NAR-AH-7” for advanced high-temperature heat exchangers
＜Problems＞
Small and medium-sized gas thermal power-generating facilities, that are typically used in industrial plants and large-sized commercial complexes, have generation efficiency of as low as 25-30%.
The higher the combustion gas temperature, the more efficient the power-generating facility. In the case to achieve power generation efficiency of 40%, the temperature of combustion exhaust gas has to be raised to around 1,000°C. Up to the present, there was no thin material for heat exchangers which could withstand such an extreme environment.

＜Solutions＞
Sumitomo Metals and Sumikin Naoetsu have succeeded in developing austenitic stainless steel, designated NAR-AH-7, which has outstanding heat-resistant and oxidation-resistant properties at the level of 1,000°C with a thin sheet thickness of 0.1 mm. This material contains optimal amounts of chrome and nickel, and rare-earth elements are added.
NAR-AH-7, that resists high-temperature high-humidity combustion exhaust gas, is contributing to high-efficiency small-sized gas thermal power generation.

＜Profile＞
* The Japan Institute of Metals and its Technical Development Award
The Japan Institute of Metals was founded as a non-profit public organization in 1937 with the primary objective of promotion and development of science, technology and industry of metals and materials. It publishes monthly periodicals of technical papers and holds symposiums and seminars.
The Technical Development Award is given to engineers who have achieved original creative technical development in metal engineering as well as new technologies or new products that are related.