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Differential thermal analysis (DTA) experiments on low-alloy steels with varying C, Si, Cr, and Mo contents indicated an increase in the difference between the liquidus and peritectic temperatures during solidification with the decrease in C and increase in Mo contents. In a number of the quenched samples, massive transformations of ferrite to austenite were observed. Electron microprobe analysis of the diffusion across a massive transformation front, along with the high growth rates estimated, gives strong reason to believe that these growths are uncontrolled by diffusion. As ferrite transforms to austenite during the peritectic reaction, shrinkage in volume occurs, causing elastic straining at the interface separating the two phases. It was shown through thermodynamic analysis of the equilibrium at the triple point that the increase in energy of the two phases due to this strain can result in undercooling below the equilibrium peritectic temperature and decreases in the equilibrium peritectic concentrations.

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Growth irregularities in continuous casting are believed to be associated with crack formation and breakouts. Differential thermal analysis on 310S stainless steel samples indicated primary precipitations of both austenite and ferrite during solidification. In tensile tests on solidifying samples, abrupt shrinkages in volume were detected in the peritectic range of temperatures. Micrographic and microsegregation analysis on samples extracted from a breakout shell revealed high ratios of primary-precipitated austenite in the thick sections of the shell, and high ratios of primary-precipitated ferrite in the thin sections. Alternating precipitations of austenite and ferrite are proposed to occur during solidification. Regions of the shell with high ratios of primary austenite remain in contact with the mould and exhibit high growth rates, whereas regions with high ratios of primary ferrite shrink in volume due to the ferrite to austenite transformation, which results in the formation of air gaps between the shell and the mould and reductions in growth rate.

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