IP Library Granted Patent US 12,420,335
Granted Patent B2
US 12,420,335 · App. 18/882,256 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Low-carbon granulated metallic units

Inventors: John Francis Quanci (Haddonfield, NJ); John Michael Richardson (Devon, PA); Patrick James Mullarkey (Manhattan, IL); David James Schwake (Aurora, IL); Andrew Michael Butor (Cranberry Township, PA); Jonathan Hale Perkins (Lisle, IL); Chun Wai Choi (Lisle, IL)
Assignee: SUNCOKE TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT LLC
B22F1/05B22D41/12B22F9/04B22F9/08B61D7/02B61D7/32B61D17/18B61K13/00C02F1/52C21B5/008C21B7/14C21B13/0006C21C5/52C21C5/527C21C7/0006C21C7/0075C21C7/064C21C7/068C22C33/006C22C33/0257C22C33/0264C22C33/0271C22C38/002C22C38/02C22C38/04G01G13/006B22F2009/001B22F2009/0808B22F2301/35B22F2304/15B22F2998/10B22F2999/00B61D7/00C02F2101/20C02F2101/203C02F2103/023C02F2103/10C02F2103/16C02F2209/40C02F2301/02Y10T428/2982
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,420,335
App. No.
18/882,256
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A low-carbon granulated metallic unit having a mass fraction of carbon between 0.1 wt. % and 4.0 wt. % is disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the granulated metallic unit can comprise a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %, a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %, a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %, a mass fraction of sulfur of at least 0.0001 wt. %, and/or a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %.

Claims (52)

1. A plurality of granulated metallic units, individual granulated metallic units comprising:

a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %;

a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %;

a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %;

a mass fraction of carbon between 0.1 wt. % and 4.0 wt. %;

a mass fraction of sulfur of at least 0.0001 wt. %; and

a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %,

wherein the plurality of granulated metallic units has a size distribution such that at least 50 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is at least 6 millimeters, and

wherein the plurality of granulated metallic units has a melting point between 1100° C. and 1600° C.

2. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of carbon is between 0.1 wt. % and 3.0 wt. %.

3. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of carbon is between 0.1 wt. % and 2.0 wt. %.

4. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of carbon is between 0.1 wt. % and 1.0 wt. % and the plurality of granulated metallic units is granulated steel.

5. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of sulfur is between 0.0001 wt. % and 0.08 wt. %.

6. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of carbon is between 0.1 wt. % and 4.0 wt. % and the mass fraction of sulfur is between 0.0001 wt. % and 0.01 wt. %.

7. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of granulated metallic units is a plurality of granulated pig irons.

8. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of phosphorous is between 0.025 wt. % and 0.085 wt. %.

9. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of silicon is between 0.25 wt. % and 0.75 wt. %.

10. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of manganese is between 0.2 wt. % and 0.4 wt. %.

11. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the mass fraction of iron is between 94.0 wt. % and 96.0 wt. %.

12. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein an average particle size of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 6 and 25 millimeters.

13. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the size distribution is such that at least 50 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 6 and 12 millimeters.

14. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the size distribution is such that at most 2.5 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is less than 4 millimeters.

15. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the size distribution is such that:

at most 0.41 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is less than 2 millimeters;

at most 1.31 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 2 and 4 millimeters;

at most 7.24 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 4 and 6 millimeters;

at most 7.53 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 6 and 8 millimeters;

at least 53.46 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 8 and 12 millimeters;

at least 18.79 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 12 and 16 millimeters;

at least 10.92 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 16 and 25 millimeters; and

at least 0.07 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is more than 25 millimeters.

16. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein a bulk density of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 250 and 500 pounds per cubic foot.

17. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein a specific gravity of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 5.0 and 6.5.

18. The plurality of granulated metallic units of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of granulated metallic units is produced at a production rate of at least 1000 tons per day.

19. A plurality of granulated metallic units, individual granulated metallic units comprising:

a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %;

a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %;

a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %;

a mass fraction of carbon between 0.1 wt. % and 4.0 wt. %;

a mass fraction of sulfur of at least 0.0001 wt. %; and

a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %,

wherein the plurality of granulated metallic units has a size distribution such that at least 50 wt. % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is at least 6 millimeters, and

wherein a bulk density of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 250 and 500 pounds per cubic foot.

20. A plurality of granulated metallic units, individual granulated metallic units comprising:

a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %;

a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %;

a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %;

a mass fraction of carbon between 0.1 wt. % and 4.0 wt. %;

a mass fraction of sulfur of at least 0.0001 wt. %; and

a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %,

wherein the plurality of granulated metallic units has a size distribution such that at least 50 wt % of the plurality of granulated metallic units is at least 6 millimeters, and

wherein a specific gravity of the plurality of granulated metallic units is between 5.0 and 6.5.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: SUNCOKE TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072254/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2024
From: QUANCI, JOHN FRANCIS; RICHARDSON, JOHN MICHAEL; MULLARKEY, PATRICK JAMES; SCHWAKE, DAVID JAMES; BUTOR, ANDREW MICHAEL; PERKINS, JONATHAN HALE; CHOI, CHUN WAI
To: SUNCOKE TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 069570/0760 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63581946 · Sep 11, 2023
Related Publication 20250083224A1 · Mar 13, 2025
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