Modern status and ways of development of round billet production technology by steel continuous casting

Production of round billets by steel continuous casting, widely used for manufacturing seamless pipes, railway wheels and tyres, quality long rolled products etc., is widely spread in the world steel industry. Constant search for improved design of CCM takes place, separate parts of existing machines are being perfected. An analysis of collected in the world practice experience of solving problems, related to production of round continuously casted billets, enables to choose proper technical solutions for each particular situation, to determine rational parameters of technology. History of development of round continuously casted billets production technology considered. Data on their modern producers presented. Peculiarities of steel continuous casting technology, as well as reasons of defects of round continuously casted billets have been discussed. Classification of basic kinds of cracks of round continuously casted billet presented. Basic problems during production of round continuously casted billets relate to ovality formation, mainly because of unevenness of heat-away in the mold. The increased ovality can lead to formation of internal and external cracks. Ways of solving problems of defects formation and ways of round continuously casted billet technology perfection summarized. Application of methods of mathematical simulation for a technology, which enables to produce defectless billets considered. It was shown, that basic measures to decrease number of billet defects, relate to setting rational parameters of temperature-speed mode, transfer to internal mold profile, corresponding to the billet shrinkage. Another measure is elimination of uneven impact of the liquid metal stream on the solidifying shell in the area of small and big radius. A perspective direction of round continuously casted billets production technology perfection is application of soft reduction methods and electromagnetic stirring of the liquid metal.