A non-oriented silicon steel and a production method are provided. The non-oriented silicon steel is prepared by using the processes of molten iron desulfurization, converter smelting, RH refining, continuous casting, hot rolling, acid tandem rolling, annealing, coating and finishing, and a chemical composition is as follows in mass percent: C0.003%, S0.008%, Si: 0.35%+1, Mn: 0.15-0.25%, P: 0.04-0.06%, Sn: 0.015%+2, Nb0.004%, V0.004%, Ti0.005%, Mo0.004%, Cr0.03%, Ni0.03%, Cu0.03%, N0.003% and the balance of Fe and inevitable inclusions. The non-oriented silicon steel has the iron loss P.sub.1.5/505.5 W/kg and the magnetic induction intensity B.sub.50001.75 when having the thickness of 0.5 mm, and desulfurization is not needed in the RH refining process.

On molten iron having the P concentration of 2 to 4 mass % and having the Cr concentration of 0.3 to 1.2 mass %, a dechromization treatment is performed by adjusting a basicity (CaO mass %)/(SiO.sub.2 mass %) of slag to greater than 0.1 and 1 or less and supplying an oxygen source with a molten iron temperature falling within a range of 1250 to 1500 C. to manufacture molten iron having the P concentration of 1.9 to 3.8 mass % and having the Cr concentration of less than 0.2 mass %.

On molten iron having the P concentration of 2 to 4 mass % and having the Cr concentration of 0.3 to 1.2 mass %, a dechromization treatment is performed by adjusting a basicity (CaO mass %)/(SiO.sub.2 mass %) of slag to greater than 0.1 and 1 or less and supplying an oxygen source with a molten iron temperature falling within a range of 1250 to 1500 C. to manufacture molten iron having the P concentration of 1.9 to 3.8 mass % and having the Cr concentration of less than 0.2 mass %.

Proposed is a method for efficiently desulfurizing molten metal in a short time without passing an excessive current when applying a potential difference between slag and metal. Using a direct-current power source, this method for desulfurizing molten metal applies a potential difference between molten slag and molten metal through electrodes, of which one electrode contacting the molten metal serves as a negative electrode and the other electrode contacting only the molten slag serves as a positive electrode. An applied current density J.sub.a is determined according to an equilibrated S concentration [S].sub.e0 before application of a potential difference such that an equilibrated S concentration [S].sub.ea when a potential difference is applied becomes equal to or lower than a target S concentration [S].sub.ft.

Proposed is a molten iron refining method capable of securing an in-flame staying time period of a heat transfer medium without being influenced by height adjustments of a blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance. As far as to a position lower than an upper end inside a converter-type vessel 1, a blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance 3 that supplies oxidizing gas and is capable of ascending and descending and at least one burner lance 4 capable of ascending and descending independently of the blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance are inserted. From the blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance, either oxidizing gas or oxidizing gas and CaO-containing refining agent are blown onto the molten iron. Also, a flame is formed by causing the burner lance to discharge fuel gas and combustion supporting gas. Powder particles discharged from the burner lance are caused to pass through the flame and to be blown onto the molten iron in a heat-transferred state, so that the molten iron is thermally compensated.

Proposed is a molten iron refining method capable of securing an in-flame staying time period of a heat transfer medium without being influenced by height adjustments of a blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance. As far as to a position lower than an upper end inside a converter-type vessel 1, a blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance 3 that supplies oxidizing gas and is capable of ascending and descending and at least one burner lance 4 capable of ascending and descending independently of the blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance are inserted. From the blowing-purpose oxygen-blowing lance, either oxidizing gas or oxidizing gas and CaO-containing refining agent are blown onto the molten iron. Also, a flame is formed by causing the burner lance to discharge fuel gas and combustion supporting gas. Powder particles discharged from the burner lance are caused to pass through the flame and to be blown onto the molten iron in a heat-transferred state, so that the molten iron is thermally compensated.

A converter steelmaking method has molten pig iron subjected to dephosphorization process for dephosphorized molten iron, dephosphorized molten iron is subjected to decarburization process for molten steel. For dephosphorization process, a first cold iron source in amount meeting Formula (1) is charged into first converter-type vessel, then undephosphorized molten pig iron is charged and subjected to dephosphorization process. Dephosphorized molten iron is discharged and held in molten metal receiving vessel. After second cold iron source is charged into first converter-type vessel in which dephosphorization process has been performed, the dephosphorized molten iron held in molten metal receiving vessel is charged and subjected to decarburization process. % W.sub.s00.1186T134 (% W.sub.s00) . . . (1), where % W.sub.s0: a ratio (%) of first cold iron source to sum of first cold iron source and charge amount of undephosphorized molten pig iron, and T: a temperature ( C.) of undephosphorized molten pig iron.

A converter steelmaking method has molten pig iron subjected to dephosphorization process for dephosphorized molten iron, dephosphorized molten iron is subjected to decarburization process for molten steel. For dephosphorization process, a first cold iron source in amount meeting Formula (1) is charged into first converter-type vessel, then undephosphorized molten pig iron is charged and subjected to dephosphorization process. Dephosphorized molten iron is discharged and held in molten metal receiving vessel. After second cold iron source is charged into first converter-type vessel in which dephosphorization process has been performed, the dephosphorized molten iron held in molten metal receiving vessel is charged and subjected to decarburization process. % W.sub.s00.1186T134 (% W.sub.s00) . . . (1), where % W.sub.s0: a ratio (%) of first cold iron source to sum of first cold iron source and charge amount of undephosphorized molten pig iron, and T: a temperature ( C.) of undephosphorized molten pig iron.

A molten iron refining method that prevents a cold iron source from remaining unmelted even under the condition of a high ratio of the cold iron source. An auxiliary material is added, and an oxidizing gas is supplied, to cold iron source and molten pig iron that are contained or fed in converter-type vessel, and molten iron is subjected to refining process. Prior to refining process, a pre-charged cold iron source that is charged all at once into the converter-type vessel before the molten pig iron is charged into the converter-type vessel is charged in an amount not larger than 0.15 times the sum of an amount of the pre-charged cold iron source and a charge amount of the molten pig iron, or is not charged. A furnace-top-added cold iron source that is added from a furnace top of the converter-type vessel is fed into converter-type vessel during refining process.

A molten iron refining method that prevents a cold iron source from remaining unmelted even under the condition of a high ratio of the cold iron source. An auxiliary material is added, and an oxidizing gas is supplied, to cold iron source and molten pig iron that are contained or fed in converter-type vessel, and molten iron is subjected to refining process. Prior to refining process, a pre-charged cold iron source that is charged all at once into the converter-type vessel before the molten pig iron is charged into the converter-type vessel is charged in an amount not larger than 0.15 times the sum of an amount of the pre-charged cold iron source and a charge amount of the molten pig iron, or is not charged. A furnace-top-added cold iron source that is added from a furnace top of the converter-type vessel is fed into converter-type vessel during refining process.