Inclusions in Runner Steel During Ingot Casting

This paper reported the observation of inclusions in the steel of an ingot runner. Thermodynamic modeling was performed to study the formation mechanism and sources of inclusions. CFD modeling on fluid flow, heat transfer, solidification of molten steel was carried out and the entrapment of inclusions in runner steel was predicted and compared with the measurement. Al2O3-based inclusions were the main ones in the steel samples. MgO?Al2O3 mainly stemmed from the lining refractory. The high MnO inclusions in the runner steel came from the runner slag. The effect of natural convection was very important for the cooling and solidification of the steel in the runner. Both the observation and the modeling show that > 50μm inclusions more accumulated on the upper area in the runner and < 50μm inclusions dispersed well and more accumulated on the lower area of the runner.     

G102Cr18Mo不锈轴承钢VIM-VAR冶炼过程夹杂物的演变

通过真空感应冶炼、真空自耗重熔,制备了G102Cr18Mo不锈轴承钢锭,利用Aspex扫描电镜分析了夹杂物数量、尺寸、面积的变化规律,并采用SEM-EDS进一步观察夹杂物的元素分布。研究结果发现,不论是真空感应还是自耗重熔,夹杂物的组成变化不大,主要由硫化锰、铝酸钙、Al-Ca-Mn-(Ti)-O-S复合夹杂物3类夹杂物组成,其中Al-Ca-Mn-(Ti)-O-S夹杂物数量最多、直径(面积)最大。但是,与真空感应锭相比,经过真空自耗重熔以后,夹杂物的总数量降低55%以上,且不存在大于15 μm以上的夹杂。与真空自耗锭下部相比,其上部的夹杂物数量进一步降低,且最大夹杂物的直径不大于10 μm。大颗粒夹杂物生产的主要原因是凝固过程硫化物以钢液中残留铝酸钙夹杂物为形核核心,在其表面进一步富集、长大。因此,为了降低钢中的大颗粒夹杂,尽可能减少钢液中的铝酸钙类夹杂,以降低夹杂物形核核心的数量;同时尽量降低原料中的硫含量,以避铝酸钙和硫化锰的结合。     

17-7PH沉淀硬化不锈钢电渣重熔过程洁净度的变化

采用35 t电弧炉-AOD脱碳-LF精炼-模铸工艺制备了17-7PH沉淀硬化不锈钢自耗电极,并通过气体保护电渣炉重熔得到了2 t重的电渣锭。利用ASPEX扫描电镜分析了电渣重熔前后17-7PH钢中夹杂物数量、尺寸、成分的变化规律,并采用SEM-EDS进一步观察夹杂物的形貌及组成。研究结果发现,电渣重熔后,O含量由6.6×10^-6降至5.7×10^-6,N含量由200×10^-6降至180×10^-6。重熔前后夹杂物的类型没有变化,重熔后总的夹杂物数量大幅减少,特别是大颗粒夹杂物的数量明显减少、尺寸减小。电渣锭中总的夹杂物以AlN夹杂物为主,其尺寸较大、数量最多。为了提高17-7PH钢电渣锭的洁净度,应尽可能减少自耗电极中的N含量,以减少电渣重熔过程AlN夹杂物的生成量。     

Effect of liquid–solid pouring on the as-cast structure and the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions in a 24.2-t steel 38KhN3MFA ingot

The primary dendrite structure and the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions in large-scale 24.2-t forging ingots of 38KhN3MFA steel cast by a standard technology and with the inoculation of a metallic stream are studied. The dendrite parameter in the inoculated ingot is found to be significantly smaller than that in the usual ingot. Therefore, the solidification process in the inoculated ingot should be faster than that in the usual ingot. This is confirmed by a more homogeneous dendrite structure of the inoculated ingot. The estimation of contamination with nonmetallic inclusions shows that nonmetallic inclusions in the ingots under comparison are of the same type, and among them are oxides, sulfides and oxysulfides. The study of the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions shows that the ingots to be compared are mainly contaminated with oxysulfide nonmetallic inclusions, and the contents of oxide and sulfide nonmetallic inclusions are minimal. The experimental ingot has lower total contamination with nonmetallic inclusions than that of the reference ingot. In this case, the inoculators having formed from a metallic melt stream do not favor an increase in the contamination of steel with nonmetallic (among them are oxide) inclusions. The study of the structure of large metal volumes shows that the inoculation of the stream is accompanied by an increase in the number of metallic droplets, which transform into solid particles in flight and increase the solidification rate when reach a solidifying ingot. This process suppresses the development of segregation phenomena in the cast metal and decreases the chemical and physical heterogeneities.     

Effect of smelting process on inclusions in C- Cr- Ni- Mo stainless steel and its mechanical properties

The effect of two smelting processes (process 1: vacuum induction melting + electroslag remelting and process 2??vacuum induction melting + vacuum arc remelting) on the inclusions in C- Cr- Ni- Mo stainless steel ingot and its mechanical properties were comparatively investigated by means of Aspex Explorer, scanning electron microscopy and EDAX spectrometer. The results show that the mass fraction of gas in the steel ingot casted through process 2 is less than 25??10-6 with irregular shaped Al2O3 inclusions. On the other hand, the mass fraction of gas in the steel ingot casted through process 1 is approximate to 100??10-6 with evenly distributed Cr2O3, Al2O3 inclusions in the size around 5??m. It is obvious that the number of oxide inclusions in ingot casted through process 1 is larger than that in ingot casted through process 2, due to the higher mass fraction of oxygen. Meanwhile, the impact toughness and ductility of specimens sampling from ingot casted through process 1 are clearly lower than those sampling from ingot casted through process 2. Thus, the conclusion could be carefully drawn that taking process 2 could significantly contribute to reducing the mass fraction of gas in steel and improving the cleanliness of steel. Therefore, the higher toughness and ductility of the steel could be obtained.     

Inclusion Characteristics of Bearing Steel in a Runner after Ingot Casting

In the uphill teaming method of ingot casting molten metal from the ladle goes into the runner system, which feeds one or several ingot moulds. This method is still important for production of bearing steel. In order to make clean steel, which has a controlled amount of inclusions, good understanding of inclusions characteristics is necessary. In this work non‐metallic inclusions of steel left in the runner part of an ingot casting system were studied. Inclusion type, size, and morphology were the main focus of this study. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to assess inclusion size and morphology. The chemical composition of inclusions was determined by SEM equipped with EDS. An automated program called ‘INCAFeature’ was used to collect statistics of inclusion characteristics. Based on the statistical analysis of inclusion composition, four types of inclusions including oxides, sulfides, carbonitrides and complex inclusions were defined. The inclusion characteristics in the runner were also compared to literature data of inclusions found in ladle and mould samples.     

电渣重熔过程电源频率对电渣锭洁净度的影响

电渣重熔采用低频供电可以提高功率因数、降低电耗,并实现电力系统的三相平衡。然而,其对电渣锭冶金质量特别是洁净度的影响还缺乏足够的数据支撑。为了研究电源频率特别是低频操作对电渣重熔锭洁净度的影响,采用实验室小型低频电渣重熔炉,以304奥氏体不锈钢、GCr15轴承钢为研究对象,详细分析了不同的电源频率对电渣锭化学成分、气体含量、夹杂物分布的影响规律。研究结果发现,与工频电渣重熔相比,不论是不锈钢还是轴承钢,当采用低频电源(2、1、0.4、0.1 Hz)电渣重熔后(在其他工艺参数如渣系、渣量、电流、电压、气氛等完全相同的情况下),电渣锭中的氧质量分数(0.010%～0.013%)大幅增加,对氮含量影响很小。电渣锭中的铝含量明显增加,而其他化学成分变化很小。与此相对应,低频电渣重熔锭的夹杂物数量也明显增加,且增加的夹杂物主要以氧化铝为主,但是夹杂物主要以小于10μm的细小夹杂为主,大颗粒夹杂物略有增加,但是数量较少。氧含量增加的主要原因是低频电源的直流倾向增大,使重熔渣池中的氧化铝发生了电解(30%Al₂O₃+70%CaF₂渣系...     

钢板超声波探伤缺陷处的夹杂物分析

通过对锭-材钢板超声波探伤缺陷处取钢样进行电解,并将电解液中的夹杂物进行分离和还原,所得到的夹杂物尺寸大多在100～500μm的范围之内,夹杂物形状有长条形、多边形和球形。对这些夹杂物进行能谱分析,确定夹杂物是脱氧产物,主要来源于钢中。     

Bubble Entrapment on Solidified Shell caused by Unsteady Steel Flow in Mold

The molten steel flow in the continuous casting mold and entrapment of inclusions and bubbles on the inner surface of the solidified shell are examined to clarify the mechanism of internal defects in steel products. Defects on steel sheets are caused by bubbles and inclusions entrapped on the solidified shell during casting. It was found that bubbles penetrate deeply due to an unbalanced time‐dependent flow. This phenomenon can be explained by the Large Eddy Simulation model, which can predict the time‐dependent flow. The number of inclusions increases as the bubble diameter and the distance of the position of entrapment from the top free surface increase. This indicates that bubbles collect inclusions while traveling in the molten steel in the continuous caster. A simple mathematical model is presented to explain the mechanism by which inclusions become attached to bubbles.     

P92大规格钢锭锻制管坯穿管断裂致因分析

摘要：某钢厂生产的P92大规格钢锭锻制管坯常出现穿管后产生裂纹的现象,为了探究裂纹产生的原因,在断裂管坯裂纹及附近区域取样,使用金相显微镜与扫描电镜分析裂纹宏观形貌和成分,并进行夹杂物评级与成分分布分析,对无裂纹产品进行高温拉伸试验,考察热制度是否合理。结果表明:穿管断裂样品均存在夹杂物评级超标的问题,未能在精炼过程上浮去除的脱氧产物与卷渣形成的大型夹杂物在穿管过程中引起应力集中,导致裂纹萌生、扩展。针对脱氧产物未被去除的问题,对钙质脱氧剂和铝脱氧剂的加入量进行调整,并延长RH处理结束的弱搅拌时间。针对卷渣带入的夹杂物,对保护渣成分进行优化,选用低熔点保护渣。结果表明这些措施较好地解决了裂纹萌生的问题,产品夹杂物评级合格,大尺寸夹杂物数量大为减少。     

车轴钢铸锭中MnS的生成、长大、熟化规律分析

 为降低大尺寸MnS夹杂物引起的车轴磁粉探伤不合格率,利用第二相析出理论以及铸锭凝固数值模拟计算相结合,计算分析了车轴钢铸锭中MnS生成、长大、熟化规律。计算结果显示,MnS形核核心尺寸与熟化过程尺寸增加均为纳米级,凝固过程MnS的长大决定凝固完成时MnS粒子直径,理论计算得到车轴钢铸锭竖直中心线上冒口、中心、底部位置对应的MnS长大后尺寸分别为156.35、107.37和94.96 μm,中心处MnS尺寸为连铸工艺条件下的2倍,与实际检测结果相符。钢锭凝固过程缓慢是MnS易于长大的直接原因,显著区别于连铸过程。在现有工艺条件下,为控制车轴钢模铸钢MnS尺寸,关键在于降低钢液硫质量分数以及控制硫偏析。控制车轴成品中MnS夹杂物不超过1.5级,需降低钢液中w([S])至0.004 3%以下。     

电磁搅拌对304不锈钢电渣锭夹杂物的影响

摘要：通过自行设计的带电磁搅拌的电渣重熔炉,以304奥氏体不锈钢为研究对象,详细分析外加磁场对电渣锭夹杂物数量、大小以及类型的影响。采用氧氮氢分析仪检测氧、氮气体含量,采用扫描电镜观察夹杂物的形貌、组成,并采用ASPEX分析夹杂物的尺寸变化。结果表明,无论是否外加磁场,电渣锭中的氧含量都有所增加,从自耗电极中氧质量分数由23.7×10-6最高增至64.70×10-6;而相比于自耗电极,氮含量略微降低,其质量分数从675.5×10-6降低至659.33×10-6;无论是否加入磁场,电渣锭中的夹杂物种类并无变化,主要由Al2O3、MnS-Al2O3、Al-Si-O、Al-Ca-O、Al-Si-Ca-O、Al-Mg-O及其他夹杂物组成;在施加磁场后,电渣锭中的大颗粒夹杂物数量有所减少。外加磁场强度较小时并不能有效去除夹杂物,反而会增加夹杂物的数量,当磁感应强度为10mT时,夹杂物数量相比于未加磁场时增加了4260%,但是最大尺寸有所减小。     

Effect of electromagnetic stirring on inclusions in 304 stainless steel electroslag ingot

Based the self designed electroslag remelting furnace with electromagnetic stirring, the effect of external magnetic field on the number, size and type of inclusions in 304 stainless steel electroslag ingot was analyzed in detail. The content of oxygen and nitrogen in electroslag ingot was analyzed by ONH analyzer, and the morphology and element distribution of inclusions were observed by SEM. Finally, the ASPEX was used to analyse the size, number and type of inclusions. The results show that the oxygen content in electroslag ingot increases from 23.7×10-6 in consumable electrode to 64.70×10-6 whether magnetic field is applied or not, and the oxygen content increases to 67.4×10-6 at most from 23.7×10-6 in the electrode. But the nitrogen content in electroslag ingot decreased slightly to 659.3×10-6 from 675.5×10-6 in the electrode. The magnetic field has almost no effect on the type of inclusions, which mainly includes Al2O3, MnS-Al2O3, Al-Si-O, Al-Ca-O, Al-Si-Ca-O, Al-Mg-O and other inclusions. After the magnetic field is applied, the amount of large inclusions in electroslag ingot decreases, but the total number of inclusions increases when the magnetic induction intensity is small. When the magnetic induction intensity is 10 mT, the number of inclusions increases by 42.60%, but the maximum size of the inclusions decreases.     

Non-metallic inclusion entrapment by slags: laboratory investigation

Abstract

Non-metallic inclusions that originate from secondary metallurgy treatments may provoke nozzle clogging during continuous casting and lead more or less directly to surface defects on final products. The amount of these non-metallic inclusions (oxides or nitride) in the solid or liquid steel is governed by the steelmaking practice and in particular by the different slags used in ladle, tundish or mould. One of the functions of the slag is the entrapment of non-metallic inclusions contained in the liquid steel. To study the rate of entrapment, a new experimental technique has been developed. It consists of melting the top of a steel rod together with a slag droplet in an induction furnace. The phenomenon of inclusion entrapment is directly observed on the surface of the liquid steel and recorded with a video camera. The rate of entrapment is measured using image analysis. The original laboratory results obtained have shown that one of the physical-chemical parameters which modifies the kinetics of oxide inclusion assimilation is the rate of dissolution in the slag. Slags with low viscosity and a low alumina activity are the more efficient to assimilate alumina inclusions, in agreement with literature results. Interaction of TiN inclusions with different slags appears to be more complex.     

脉冲电流对钢液凝固过程中夹杂物迁移行为的影响

在钢液凝固过程中施加脉冲电流,通过观察和分析凝固试样中夹杂物的形貌、数量、尺寸和分布状态等,以研究施加脉冲电流对钢中夹杂物迁移行为的影响。结果表明,在脉冲电流的影响下,钢液凝固初期形成的晶核会发生脱落而形成结晶雨;在晶核下落过程中,钢中夹杂物也会随之向下部迁移。随着脉冲电流强度的逐渐增加,钢锭上、中部夹杂物逐渐减少,晶粒尺寸变小。在本试验条件下,当电流强度为56.6 A/cm2 时,钢锭上、中部夹杂物的总面积和总数量分别比未施加脉冲电流时的降低46.9% 和35.6%。对于夹杂物含量要求较高的钢种而言,在钢锭凝固过程中施加脉冲电流,控制结晶雨的形成和迁移过程不失为一种有效去除钢中夹杂物、提高钢锭质量的技术手段。     

自耗电极冶金质量对G20CrNi2Mo轴承钢电渣锭洁净度的影响

研究了G20CrNi2Mo轴承钢电渣重熔过程自耗电极对电渣锭洁净度的影响。结果表明,电渣锭洁净度与自耗电极的冶金质量有较大的相关性。随着自耗电极氧含量的升高,电渣锭氧含量呈升高趋势。通过扫描电镜-能谱仪分析发现,氧含量较高的自耗电极中低熔点CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃夹杂物数量比低氧含量自耗电极的要多。由于低熔点夹杂物与钢液的界面能较低,限制了其在电渣重熔过程中的去除效率,从而导致电渣锭氧含量较高。通过电弧炉出钢高拉碳操作,氧含量低于0. 002 0%的锭子数量占到总量的90%以上。     

脉冲电流对钢液凝固过程中夹杂物迁移行为的影响

在钢液凝固过程中施加脉冲电流,通过观察和分析凝固试样中夹杂物的形貌、数量、尺寸和分布状态等,以研究施加脉冲电流对钢中夹杂物迁移行为的影响。结果表明,在脉冲电流的影响下,钢液凝固初期形成的晶核会发生脱落而形成结晶雨;在晶核下落过程中,钢中夹杂物也会随之向下部迁移。随着脉冲电流强度的逐渐增加,钢锭上、中部夹杂物逐渐减少,晶粒尺寸变小。在本试验条件下,当电流强度为56.6 A/cm2 时,钢锭上、中部夹杂物的总面积和总数量分别比未施加脉冲电流时的降低46.9% 和35.6%。对于夹杂物含量要求较高的钢种而言,在钢锭凝固过程中施加脉冲电流,控制结晶雨的形成和迁移过程不失为一种有效去除钢中夹杂物、提高钢锭质量的技术手段。     

保护气氛电渣重熔对DZ2高速车轴钢成分及夹杂物的影响

对DZ2高速车轴钢铸坯进行氩气保护气氛电渣重熔并轧制成车轴坯成分分析和检测轴坯、氢氧含量及夹杂物的数量、尺寸和形貌,并与铸坯直接轧制成的车轴坯进行比较。结果表明：电渣重熔后,轴坯纵横向上的成分较均匀(0.25%～0.27%C),但平均Si和Al含量分别从锭头的0.25%和0.018%降至锭尾的0.23%和0.015%;钢中氢和氧含量分别由铸坯的0.85×10^-6和9×10^-6增至电渣锭的1.52×10^-6和10×10^-6。电渣重熔轴坯中的夹杂物主要是小球状的钙铝酸盐,其尺寸在10μm以上的很少,5～10μm的数密度为0.068个/mm²,1～5μm的为0.04个/mm²。保护气氛电渣重熔不仅可以去除钢中的大型夹杂物,还可以使小尺寸夹杂物的数量显著降低。     

8Cr13MoV钢电渣重熔过程中夹杂物行为

 研究了电渣过程在不同电流强度和冷却强度条件下,刀剪用8Cr13MoV马氏体不锈钢中夹杂物的行为和组织变化。研究表明,经过电渣重熔,8Cr13MoV钢中的主要夹杂物是以MnS、TiN、Al2O3以及以Al2O3为核心,（V,Ti）N为外围的复合夹杂物;电渣过程电流强度和冷却强度的变化对夹杂物类型没有影响;随电渣重熔电流强度增加,电渣锭中夹杂物的个数比和面积比减小,夹杂物粒径分布中较小尺寸的夹杂物数量增加;随电渣重熔冷却强度增加,夹杂物个数比基本不变,面积比减小,夹杂物粒径分布中较小尺寸的夹杂物数量增加,夹杂物得到细化。     

钢中非金属夹杂物的相关基础研究(Ⅱ)——夹杂物检测方法及脱氧热力学基础

 从几个方面对多年来在钢中非金属夹杂物基础研究方面做的工作做简单介绍：钢中夹杂物和钢水洁净度的评估方法、稳态浇注和非稳态浇注的定义、非稳态浇注过程中形成的大颗粒夹杂物、总氧和大颗粒夹杂物的对应关系、脱氧过程夹杂物形成的热力学基础、钢水中夹杂物形核和长大的动力学研究和钢水中流体流动和夹杂物的运动、去除及被凝固前沿的捕捉。并讨论了钢中夹杂物研究下一步应该继续进行的工作,对洁净钢的生产提出了一些指导性意见。