This chapter examines the microstructure of special bar quality (or engineering) steels and how it is influenced by carbon content, tempering temperature, and prior austenitic grain size. It explains how some of the changes are difficult to detect and require special etching and/or measurement techniques. It provides information on many types of engineering steel, including medium and high-carbon steels used in rail applications. It also examines the effect of nickel-phosphorus coatings on stainless steel and phosphate coatings used to reduce friction during thread rolling and other such procedures.

This chapter discusses the rise of steel minimills in the late 1960s through the leadership of F. Kenneth Iverson and Gerald Heffernan. The discussion covers the development of processes for flat products, flanged beams, and railroad rails. The chapter also covers the growth of the minimill industry along with the consolidation of the industry into large corporations. The chapter ends by providing information on novel processes developed for making iron.