PADRONIZAçãO DE PRáTICAS DE RINSAGEM OBJETIVANDO OTIMIZAçãO DA LIMPIDEZ DO AçO

Abstract

Steel cleanliness has become increasingly important throughout the years, bringing steelmaker's attention to operational parameters that can optimize and fulfill these quality requirements. Argon stirring at the LMF is one of the key steps in achieving optimized steel cleanliness, especially if rinsing is performed before CaSi addition (pre-rinse). Trials were performed at Vallourec Star and heats were produced in 2 different scenarios: with and without pre-rinse. Lollipop samples analyzed via automated inclusion analysis (AIA) demonstrate that pre-rinsed heats presented a strong drop on inclusion density (by -50%) when compared to heats were not prerinsed (inclusion density remained stable). Pre-rinse practice was standardized at Vallourec Star..