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(11)

EP 4 377 483 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 05.06.2024 Bulletin 2024/23 (21) Application number: 22755179.3 (22) Date of filing: 26.07.2022

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C21D 8/04(2006.01) C22C 38/00(2006.01) C22C 38/02(2006.01) C22C 38/06(2006.01) C22C 38/14(2006.01) C23C 2/20(2006.01) C23C 2/06(2006.01) C21D 9/48(2006.01) C22C 38/04(2006.01) C22C 38/12(2006.01) C23C 2/02(2006.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): C21D 8/041; C21D 8/0426; C21D 8/0436; C21D 8/0463; C21D 8/0473; C23C 2/06; C22C 38/004; C21D 2201/05; C21D 9/48; C22C 38/06; C22C 38/14; C22C 38/04; C22C 38/02; C22C 38/001; C22C 38/12; C23C 2/02; C23C 2/20 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2022/070919 (87) International publication number: WO 2023/006732 (02.02.2023 Gazette 2023/05)

(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: 28.07.2021 EP 21188285 (71) Applicant: Tata Steel IJmuiden B.V. 1951 JZ Velsen-Noord (NL)	(72) Inventors: AN, Yuguo 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL) VAN VELDHUIZEN, Hendrik, Bart 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL) TOOSE, Edgar, Matthijs 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)