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(11)

EP 4 367 276 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 15.05.2024 Bulletin 2024/20 (21) Application number: 22747320.4 (22) Date of filing: 07.07.2022

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C21D 8/02(2006.01) C21D 9/46(2006.01) C22C 38/04(2006.01) C23C 2/06(2006.01) C23C 2/28(2006.01) C22C 38/12(2006.01) C22C 38/22(2006.01) C22C 38/28(2006.01) C22C 38/38(2006.01) C21D 8/04(2006.01) C22C 38/02(2006.01) C22C 38/06(2006.01) C23C 2/26(2006.01) C23C 2/40(2006.01) C22C 38/14(2006.01) C22C 38/24(2006.01) C22C 38/32(2006.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): C22C 38/02; C22C 38/04; C22C 38/06; C22C 38/12; C22C 38/14; C22C 38/22; C22C 38/24; C22C 38/28; C22C 38/32; C22C 38/38; C21D 8/0226; C21D 8/0236; C21D 8/0273; C21D 8/0278; C21D 8/0478; C21D 8/0426; C21D 8/0436; C21D 8/0473; C21D 9/46; C21D 2211/002; C21D 2211/005; C21D 2211/008; C23C 2/06; C23C 2/28; C23C 2/40; C23C 2/02; C23C 2/12; C23C 2/0224 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2022/069016 (87) International publication number: WO 2023/281035 (12.01.2023 Gazette 2023/02)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 07.07.2021 EP 21184350 (71) Applicant: Tata Steel IJmuiden B.V. 1951 JZ Velsen-Noord (NL)	(72) Inventor: VAN KREVEL, Joost, Willem, Hendrik 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL) (74) Representative: Group Intellectual Property Services  c/o Tata Steel Nederland Technology B.V. P.O. Box 10000 - 3G.37 1970 CA IJmuiden 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL)