Steel manufacturing and quality

Hi there.

Before telling you anything about material characterization and inspection, please, clarify us why do you need to know the steel date of manufacturing.

And also, which type of steel you are talking about.

I'm asking because your question does not make any sense or can be easily answered depending on the kind of steel you are dealing with.

Hi,

I work for a Third Party company, the subject is inspection of fixed tubular kiln.

Problem 1. The client does not define the material quality and technical delivery standard, the only definition written on the ITP is carbon steel

I have reported this clause to the client but could not take an answer from the client

Problem 2.The client does not define visual inspection standard of welds and painting application(the quality level for imperfections are not defined)

I also write these to report which i send to the client and still waiting for response.

Problem3 - The real problem; The client has come to the site last week and said that this material of the kiln is old not new. We showed him the certificates of the material, pictures of the works but client does not believe that.The main reason why the client does not belive is after shop prime application the view of paint is damaged because the material has been taken to oxygen cut, bending and welding etc. which is the nature of work.

The question is although we have certificates, pictures and buying papers if the client wants an evidence how the manufacturer proofes that the material is new, my answer is fatigue test but i am not sure.

Waiting for responses, thanks...

Hi baranakinbingol,

I can understand your problem... and it's seem a little hard: to manage with a Client with few (if any) knowledge.

Normally in the industry, you can expect just getting what you specify. If the client just say "Carbon steel" then any steel according to any specification for carbon steels is acceptable: is just what they have required.

If the client doesn't specify any requirements on inspection of welds, painting (and there are no code, local, regional or national regulations... then any standard used is valid.

Just two points:

Even if no requirements are imposed, the equipment manufacturer should have their minimum requirements on this aspects.

According to you "after shop prime application the view of paint is damaged because the material has been taken to oxygen cut, bending and welding etc. which is the nature of work." It seems then that the material has been primed and after that oxygen cut, bended, welded, etc. It's normal that the appearance of the paint (and the whole part) be poor. For carbon steel constructions, even if material arrives to the site primed it has been primed after all shop operations and if field welds are necessary, a zone of about 2" is unpainted to allow the weld and the painting is finished after welding operation have finished.

Kind regards

If you are dealing with an ethical supplier, he can provide the pedigree.

How approximate do you need the date to be? Days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries?

Determination of age in years or greater periods could be quite an interesting area of study dealing with profiles of trace elements tracing back to locations of the original iron ore. Neat stuff for archeological study or forensics.

When you speak of "carbon test" are you referring to Carbon 14 testing? I wonder if this is feasible for the small amount of carbon in steel.

Ed Weldon

Kwetz -- You are right about this. I know of no practical test to determine with any certainty that the steel has not seen actual service since its last melt.

The customer's inspector shows his ignorance of steel technology, perhaps born of lack of education or experience. Or is the inspector smarter than we think? I would suppose the answer to this problem lies in the norms of the local culture (bribes or perhaps the assistance of a religious person or shaman?) or some education of the inspector.

Looks to me like like a people problem here. .........Ed Weldon

Mr Ed Weldon,

I am the client' s inspector but the client is definetly problem, The main problem is the client itself.The client does not believe to the pictures, certificates and buying papers of the material.

I know it is very difficult to response such an unnormal question of client.I have that difficulty.

Forget about the question.

Thanks a lot.

Good answer Kwetz.

milo

Sounds like the project is over budget and your client is looking to lower the cost.

When in doubt, follow the dollar.