The Spontaneous Emulsification of Entrained Inclusions During Casting of High Aluminum Steels

Mold slag entrainment during the continuous casting process presents a late stage source of non-metallic inclusions (NMI) with a high likelihood of ending up in the final product. The reaction between the entrained slag phase and surrounding liquid steel in the continuous casting mold affects the inclusion morphology and properties. However, there is a lack of information on the kinetics of the NMI-steel reaction. A novel approach, utilizing controlled synthetic inclusion/metal samples, has been developed to study the reactions between free inclusion-slag droplets and steel. The technique combines High-Temperature Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (HT-CSLM), X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and advanced electron microscopy techniques offering rapid controlled heating performance and extensive characterization of the samples. This method offers the ability to observe the size, shape and composition of an unconstrained reacting inclusion and to investigate the interface between the materials with respect to reaction time. This study interrogates a low aluminum steel (0.04 wt pct) and a high aluminum steel (1 wt pct) in contact with an inclusion-slag phase with a starting composition aligned to a typical mold slag. It was found that the reaction between silica and aluminum across the interface of the two phases provided a driving force for spontaneous emulsification to occur. Products of such emulsification will have a significant effect on the inclusion size distribution and potentially the prevalence of inclusion retention in molten steels solidifying in the continuous caster (for example if emulsified buoyancy forces are reduced to near zero) and hence in the subsequent solid product.

Calculation and Analysis of the Structure and Viscosity of B2O3-Regulated CaO-Al2O3-Based Mold Fluxes

The high content of aluminum in the steel reacts with the CaO-Si2O-based mold fluxes, resulting in deterioration of the mold slag physical and chemical properties, which cannot be applied to the continuous casting molten slag casting process of high-Mn high-Al steel Herein, the thermodynamic and structural properties of low-reactivity CaO-Al2O3-based mold fluxes were investigated. The thermodynamic properties were studied based on the first principles of quantum mechanics. The results show that the formation of stable structures of B-O and O-B-O in the mold fluxes was beneficial to reduce the probability of structural interconnection, degree of polymerization, and viscosity of the molten slag. The increase in the ratio of CaO/Al2O3 = 0.88–2 led to an increase in the O2− concentration. O2− entered the [AlO4] structure to form a stable structure of [AlO6] and [AlO5], wherein [AlO6] was more stable than [AlO5], reducing the degree of polymerization of the network structure. When cosolvent content B2O3 = 2%–10%, a simple layered structure of [BO3] was formed, and the particle migration resistance, break temperature, and viscous activation energy of the mold fluxes were reduced, while the corrected optical basicity of mold fluxes was gradually increased.

Mechanism of Floater Formation in the Mold during Continuous Casting of Ti-Stabilized Austenitic Stainless Steels

During the continuous casting (CC) of Ti-bearing steel, a steel lump can solidify in the mold (i.e., floater steel) more easily than in the Ti-free steels. This causes severe surface defects or even a breakout. We have examined the mechanisms of floater formation during the CC of 321 stainless steel by analyzing the inclusions in the floater steel and in the 321 steel that was sampled from the mold. Additionally, we calculated the disregistry between the metallic phases and common inclusions. The mineralogy and morphology of the inclusions were examined while using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermodynamic calculations on the TixOy inclusions at different oxygen potentials were performed while using FactSage 7.2. Using this approach, we determined that ferrite nucleates grow on TiN and MgO inclusions following solidification, which then form micro-aggregates as a result of dynamic collisions and alliances. Analysis of the mold slag from the metallurgy stage indicated that altering the basicity and properties of the mold flux systematically might minimize the reaction between the slag and steel, which would achieve a coordinated control over lubrication and heat transfer.

Mold Nonsinusoidal Oscillation Mode and Its Effect on Slag Infiltration for Lubrication and Initial Shell Growth during Steel Continuous Casting

The effect of nonsinusoidal oscillation at different modification ratios (α) on slag lubrication was investigated during mold oscillation. A validated and reliable multiphase model was employed, which involved flow and solidification of the molten steel and mold slag. The main results revealed that a large amount of liquid slag at the entrance of the mold–strand channel reflowed into the slag pool at the middle of the negative strip period. The phenomenon was more distinct, with an increase in the modification ratio. The modification ratio had no obvious effect on the average thickness of the liquid film at different depths below the meniscus. A modification ratio of 0.5 caused less fluctuation of the transient liquid film. Quantitative prediction of slag consumption indicated that as the modification ratio increased from 0.2 to 0.5 to 0.8, the average values were 0.278, 0.286, and 0.279 kg/m2, respectively. Shell solidification and growth near the meniscus mainly occurred when the mold was descending, which not only depended on the heat flux, but also on the liquid slag flow, the pressure driven by slag rim, and the mold oscillation. Optimization of the modification ratio of nonsinusoidal oscillation could be an alternative to delay growth of the initial shell towards the molten steel. A modification ratio of 0.5 had the least robust shell tip at the meniscus, thereby reducing entrapment of inclusions and bubbles by the shell tip.