The behavior and formation mechanisms of inclusions in Ti-stabilized, 17Cr Austenitic Stainless Steel produced by the ingot casting route were investigated through systematic sampling of liquid steel and rolled products. Analysis methods included total oxygen and nitrogen contents, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.The results indicate that the composition of inclusions was strongly dependent on the types of added alloying agents. During the AOD refining process, after the addition of ferrosilicon alloy and electrolytic manganese, followed by aluminum, the composition of inclusions changed from manganese silicate-rich inclusions to alumina-rich inclusions. After tapping and titanium wire feeding, pure TiN particles and complex inclusions with Al 2 O 3 -MgO-TiO x cores containing TiN were found to be the dominant inclusions when [pct Ti] was 0.307 mass pct in the molten steel. These findings were confirmed by thermodynamic calculations which indicated that there was a driving force for TiN inclusions to be formed in the liquid phase due to the high contents of [Ti] and [N] in the molten steel. From the start of casting through to the rolled bar, there was no further change in the composition of inclusions compared to the titanium addition stage. Stringer-shaped TiN inclusions were observed in the rolled bar. These inclusions were elongated along the rolling direction with lengths varying from 17 to 84 lm and could have a detrimental impact on the corrosion resistance as well as the mechanical properties of the stainless steel products.
Full-scale water modelling studies combined with nail-dipping industrial trials at Shougang Jingtang (SGJT) Works were carried out in order to investigate the parameters that influence flow patterns in the continuous slab casting mould. The effects of casting speed/mould width combinations, argon bubbling flow rates, submerged entry nozzle (SEN) immersion depths and SEN geometries (port angle and bottom shape) on the flow patterns were examined. A CMI factor defined as casting speed/mould width ratio index is put forward to describe the combined effect of these parameters on the fluid flow patterns in the mould. The results show that the CMI and argon injection rates are the dominant factors that determine the flow pattern. On the basis of the results from this study, critical argon flow rates for different casting combinations have been evaluated. These findings provide operating guidelines for generating optimal flow patterns based on double roll flow with appropriate surface velocities in continuous slab casting moulds. On the basis of these considerations, slab quality at SGJT Works was substantially improved and the percentage of flow pattern-related sliver defects in cold rolled products was decreased from 4.5 to 2.3%.
The evolution of macro inclusions during continuous casting was investigated by large-area inclusion characterization using ASPEX and analysis of nozzle blockage deposits. Six kinds of inclusions over 5 μm were observed in samples taken from the tundish and the slabs: single alumina particles, alumina dendrites, refractory-related alumina, alumina associated with bubbles, alumina clusters and Al-Ti complex oxides. By examining the morphology of the nozzle blockage deposit, it was concluded that the refractory-related alumina in the slabs came from the decarburization layer washed away by the steel stream. Some of the alumina clusters that came from the nozzle blockage deposit dislodged by the steel flow, were formed by the agglomeration and sintering of 5-20 μm inclusions that were carried over from the tundish. Two kinds of Al-Ti oxides were found in the tundish, and their evolution mechanisms during the casting process were proposed.
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