GCr15 bearing steel exhibits comparatively serious center macro-segregation in the continuous casting of bloom with the increase of casting speed. In the present work, the influence of complex electromagnetic stirring (M + F-EMS) and mechanical soft reduction (MSR) on the center macro-segregation in the continuous casting of 220 × 260 mm blooms of GCr15 bearing steel have been comparatively investigated to increase casting speed in order to ensure a good internal quality. Based on numerical simulation and experiments, M + F-EMS and MSR have been comprehensively evaluated and compared by combination of industrial trials. The results show that center carbon segregation first decreases and then increases with the increase of casting speed in both processes without optimization. For M + F-EMS process, when casting speed increases from 0.75 to 0.85 m · min−1, the average degree of center carbon segregation decreases from 1.2 ∼ 1.26 to 1.18 ∼ 1.25 by asymmetrical optimization; with regard to combination of M + F-EMS and MSR process, when casting speed increases from 0.75 to 0.9 m · min−1, the average degree of center carbon segregation decreases from 1.2 ∼ 1.26 to 1.08 ∼ 1.1 and the solute element distribution becomes homogeneous by optimization. In comparison, significant reduction of the center macro-segregation with the increase of casting speed can be achieved for combination of M + F-EMS and MSR process, however, it is infeasible for M + F-EMS process in the present technology situation.
Optimization of Thermal Soft Reduction on Continuous-Casting Billet
