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EP 4 473 133 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 11.12.2024 Bulletin 2024/50 (21) Application number: 23701971.6 (22) Date of filing: 27.01.2023

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C21D 8/02(2006.01) C22C 38/00(2006.01) C21D 9/46(2006.01) C21D 8/04(2006.01) C23C 2/12(2006.01) C22C 38/14(2006.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): C22C 38/00; C21D 8/0226; C21D 8/0236; C21D 8/0263; C21D 8/0273; C21D 8/0426; C21D 8/0436; C21D 8/0463; C21D 8/0473; C21D 9/46; C23C 2/12; C22C 38/14; C21D 8/0478; C23C 2/06; C21D 9/56; C21D 9/663; C21D 1/26; C21D 6/02; C21D 2211/004 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2023/051964 (87) International publication number: WO 2023/148087 (10.08.2023 Gazette 2023/32)

(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 ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 03.02.2022 EP 22154920 (71) Applicant: Tata Steel IJmuiden B.V. 1951 JZ Velsen-Noord (NL)	(72) Inventors: KRUSEMEIJER, Gerard August 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL) YUGUO, An 1970 CA IJmuiden (NL) TOOSE, Edgar Matthijs 1970 CA IJMUIDEN (NL) VAN VELDHUIZEN, Hendrik Bart 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)