A novel medium-Mn steel microstructure with 0.1 wt.% Nb was designed using Thermo-Calc and JMatPro thermodynamic simulation software. The pseudo-binary equilibrium phase diagram and time–temperature transformation (TTT) and continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams were simulated in order to analyze the evolution of equilibrium phases during solidification and homogenization heat treatment. Subsequently, the steel was cast in a vacuum induction furnace with the composition selected from simulations. The specimens were heat-treated at 1200 °C and water-quenched. The results of the simulations were compared to the experimental results. The microstructure was characterized using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found that the as-cast microstructure consisted mainly of a mixture of martensite, ferrite, and a low amount of austenite, while the microstructure in the homogenization condition corresponded to martensite and retained austenite, which was verified by X-ray diffraction tests. In order to design further production stages of the steel, the homogenized samples were subjected to hot compression testing to determine their plastic flow behavior, employing deformation rates of 0.083 and 0.83 s−1, and temperatures of 800 and 950 °C.
In this work, the fluid dynamic and thermal behavior of steel was analyzed during argon gas stirring in a 140-t refining ladle. The Eulerian multiphase mathematical model was used in conjunction with the discrete ordinates (DO) thermal radiation model in a steel-slag-argon system. The model was validated by particle image velocimetry (PIV) and the analysis of the opening of the oil layer in a physical scale model. The effect of Al2O3 and Mg-C as a refractory in the walls was studied, and the Ranz-Marshall and Tomiyama models were compared to determine the heat exchange coefficient. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between these heat exchange models; likewise, the radiation heat transfer model adequately simulated the thermal behavior according to plant measurements, finding a thermal homogenization time of the steel of 2.5 min for a gas flow of 0.45 Nm3·min−1. Finally, both types of refractory kept the temperature of the steel within the ranges recommended in the plant; however, the use of Al2O3 had better heat retention, which would favor refining operations.
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