Numerical simulation method of submerged arc surfacing process of rollers

The submerged arc surfacing process involves complex behaviors such as metal heat transfer, melting, flow, phase transformation, and solidification and involves the interaction of electric field, thermal field, magnetic field, and flow field. At present, it is impossible to reveal the transient mechanism of multi-field coupling in submerged arc surfacing by experience or trial and error, which is not conducive to shorten the development cycle and save the cost. Moreover, it is difficult to measure the molten pool velocity, von Mises stress, and phase transformation zone in real-time. However, these factors are the key to obtain a high-quality surfacing layer. Therefore, a three-dimensional mathematical model of heat force flow multi-field coupling for roller submerged arc surfacing is established in this article. The distribution and variation of welding temperature, von Mises stress, molten pool flow field, and phase transformation zone are revealed by solving the model. The maximum von Mises stress of the rollers during submerged arc surfacing is 432 MPa. The depth of the phase transformation is 2.50 mm, and the width is 1.98 mm. Zeiss-IGMA HD FESEM was used to observe the welding microstructure. The results show that the main microstructure is martensite and a small amount of ferrite.

Influence of longitudinal control magnetic field on efficiency of the arc process

Problematic. When surfacing and welding with the action of a longitudinal magnetic field (LMF), the productivity of melting of the electrode metal increases, it is possible to control the geometric dimensions of the cross-section of the surfaced beads and welds, the structure of the surfaced metal and welds is refined, the hardness increases, the strength and ductility of the weld metal increases, and the resistance of the welds hot cracking. Research objective. Analyze the literature data on the effect of LMF on the efficiency of the arc surfacing process of worn-out surfaces of parts and structures, taking into account the magnetic properties of electrode wires and base metal to increase the efficiency of this process. Realization technique. Experiments were performed on submerged-arc surfacing with Sv-08A wire with a diameter of 5 mm with the action of an alternating LMF. Investigated the effect of the LMF frequency on the depth of penetration of the base metal and the width of the surfaced beads. The results of research. It has been established that at frequencies of the LMF within the range f = 5...50 Hz, the penetration depth is less, and the width of the bead is greater than in surfacing without the action of the LMF. In the future, it is necessary to carry out studies on the effect of LMF during surfacing with flux-cored wires and strips on the metal structure of the surfaced beads and their service characteristics. Conclusions. It has been established that for grinding the structural components of the metal surfaced with the action of LMF, it is necessary to ensure effective mixing of the liquid metal in the weld pool, that is, along its entire length. In this case, it is necessary to ensure the optimal parameters of the control magnetic fields. There is no theory that would explain the mechanism of refinement of the weld structure during arc surfacing with the action of LMF, and the existing views on this mechanism are contradictory. The data presented in the literature refer to the process of arc surfacing and welding with solid wire, there are no data on surfacing using flux-cored wires and strip electrodes.

Replacing Fossil Carbon in the Production of Ferroalloys with a Focus on Bio-Based Carbon: A Review

The production of ferroalloys and alloys like ferronickel, ferrochromium, ferromanganese, silicomanganese, ferrosilicon and silicon is commonly carried out in submerged arc furnaces. Submerged arc furnaces are also used to upgrade ilmenite by producing pig iron and a titania-rich slag. Metal containing resources are smelted in this furnace type using fossil carbon as a reducing agent, which is responsible for a large amount of direct CO2 emissions in those processes. Instead, renewable bio-based carbon could be a viable direct replacement of fossil carbon currently investigated by research institutions and companies to lower the CO2 footprint of produced alloys. A second option could be the usage of hydrogen. However, hydrogen has the disadvantages that current production facilities relying on solid reducing agents need to be adjusted. Furthermore, hydrogen reduction of ignoble metals like chromium, manganese and silicon is only possible at very low H2O/H2 partial pressure ratios. The present article is a comprehensive review of the research carried out regarding the utilization of bio-based carbon for the processing of the mentioned products. Starting with the potential impact of the ferroalloy industry on greenhouse gas emissions, followed by a general description of bio-based reducing agents and unit operations covered by this review, each following chapter presents current research carried out to produce each metal. Most studies focused on pre-reduction or solid-state reduction except the silicon industry, which instead had a strong focus on smelting up to an industrial-scale and the design of bio-based carbon for submerged arc furnace processes. Those results might be transferable to other submerged arc furnace processes as well and could help to accelerate research to produce other metals. Deviations between the amount of research and scale of tests for the same unit operation but different metal resources were identified and closer cooperation could be helpful to transfer knowledge from one area to another. Life cycle assessment to produce ferronickel and silicon already revealed the potential of bio-based reducing agents in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but was not carried out for other metals until now.

Effect of Microstructure on Low-Temperature Fracture Toughness of a Submerged-Arc-Welded Low-Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Plate

This study investigated the low-temperature fracture behavior of an 80-mm-thick low-carbon steel plate welded by submerged arc. The relationship between impact absorbed energy and ductility–brittle transition temperature (DBTT) based on the microstructures was evaluated through quantitative analysis on grain size and complex constituent phases using advanced EBSD technique. The microstructure formed differently depending on the heat affections, which determined fracture properties in a low-temperature environment. Among the various microstructures of the heat-affected zone (HAZ), acicular ferrite has the greatest resistance to low-temperature impact due to its fine interlocking formation and its high-angle grain boundaries.