Mould Powder Development for Continuous Casting of Steel

Mould powders significantly determine the stability of the continuous casting process of steel at all casting speeds. The main functions of mould powders are to provide strand lubrication and to control the mould heat transfer in the horizontal direction between the steel shell and the copper mould. The composition, properties and operational performance of mould powders were investigated in detail with a focus on high-speed thin slab casting and conventional slab casting. Various advanced characterisation methods were applied, completed with experiments at laboratory scale and full-scale plant trials. It was found that melting of mould powder at the meniscus and crystallisation of the slag film are key processes during continuous casting. Both powder melting and slag crystallisation are primarily based on the composition of the mould powder and the mould slag. Additionally, the operational parameters during continuous casting will affect these processes as well. Results of the work are used for a further and more fundamental understanding of the mould powder functions and to guide mould powder design for various steel grades.     

Understanding mould powders for high-speed casting

The development and application of mould powder for high-speed continuous casting of steel is described. For thin slab casting, the main requirements are proper powder melting, undisturbed slag infiltration, adequate strand lubrication and the control of mould heat transfer. For increased casting speeds i.e. up to 8?m/min, slag infiltration and in particular the control of mould heat transfer via crystallisation of the slag film becomes even more important. It was found that a low powder consumption and hence a thin slag film is no restriction for an undisturbed thin slab casting process. Given a stable casting process and machine condition, the mould powder properties are not as critical as widely assumed.     

Development of Mould Flux for High Speed Thin Slab Casting

Mould powders impact the stability of the continuous casting process for steel at all casting speeds. The main functions of mould powder are to provide sufficient lubrication and to control the mould heat transfer between the solidifying steel shell and the copper mould. At higher casting speeds associated with thin slab casting, the role of the mould powder is even more important. Actual casting speeds for the thin slab caster at Corus IJmuiden are between 5.4 and 6 m/min; the production level is around 1.3 Mt/year (coils). It has been decided to increase the production of this caster to a level of 1.8 Mt/year (coils). In order to meet this demand, the steel in mould time has to be increased to approximately 85% and the maximum casting speed will be increased to 8 m/min. A collaborative project between Sumitomo Metal Industries (SMI) and Corus IJmuiden was initiated to develop mould powders which facilitate casting speeds up to 8 m/min at the thin slab caster. Main subjects of this project are: mould powder design, characterisation of mould powder and mould slag, trials at the pilot caster of Sumitomo and finally plant trials at the thin slab caster of Corus. A special point of attention is the condition to use mould powder as a granulated material at the thin slab caster. As a consequence, the characterisation work focussed on the choice of raw materials and on the corresponding phase relations at elevated temperatures. Typical of the developed mould powders are so‐called mild cooling properties which will result in a controlled mould heat transfer during casting. In this paper, several aspects of this joint project between Sumitomo and Corus will be described.     

Challenge to control mould heat transfer during thin slab casting

Abstract

At the thin slab caster of Tata Steel, IJmuiden, mild cooling mould powders were introduced with the aim to control the mould heat transfer during casting. These mild cooling mould powders are characterised by specific values of basicity, solidification point and chemical composition. Application of these mould powders resulted in a redistribution of mould heat transfer during casting, i.e. a reduced and more stable mould heat transfer in the critical upper part of the mould and an increased mould heat transfer in the lower part of the mould. The average mould heat transfer and hence the shell thickness at mould exit are comparable to the standard powder. The application of mild cooling mould powders also resulted in improved solidification behaviour of the steel shell. A thinner chill zone with smaller thickness variations was observed. Furthermore, it was found that the mould taper required optimisation to match the changes in shrinkage behaviour to ensure uniform solidification. The use of mild cooling powders was observed to give an increase in mould friction. Mould thermal monitoring indicated that the solid slag films fractured (sheeting) in the upper part of the mould. However, no operational problems were reported, which indicate that the first 200 mm under the steel meniscus is essential for initial solidification and for the formation of a homogeneous steel shell. All these findings can be understood by considering the crystallisation properties of the mould slag, which include the cooling rate. Mild cooling has been shown to provide uniform heat transfer and adequate lubrication for high speed thin slab casting.     

The Influence of Carbonaceous Material on the Melting Behaviour of Mould Powder

The melting behaviour of mould powder during continuous casting is an important consideration with respect to caster performance, production rate and steel quality. In this experimental study the effect of different carbonaceous materials on the melting characteristics of mould powders was evaluated. Using X‐ray diffraction, different types of carbon were quantitatively characterized in terms of their internal structure and reactivity experiments were conducted to investigate potential relationships between the structural morphology of carbons and their reactivity. High temperature microscopy and drip test experiments were then used to investigate the melting behaviour of mould powders containing different carbonaceous materials. From the results obtained, correlations were established between the structural factors, chemical reactivity and melting behaviour.     

Crystallization Extent and Phase Constitution of Slag Films Taken from Continuous Casting Moulds for Stainless Steels

Slag film samples were taken from the mould wall after casting of stainless steel slabs of grade 304, 321, 409L and 430, which represent austenitic, ferritic and titanium stabilized stainless steels. The chemical compositions of the samples were analysed and their phases were identified using a combination of scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Finally the crystallization ratio was determined by SEM. The results show that the chemical compositions of the films during casting differ from the original designed flux composition. Concerning the heat transfer in the mould, the film taken during casting of steel grade 304 showed the highest insulation ability whereas the film taken during casting of steel grade 409L had the lowest insulation ability. The films taken during casting of steel grades 321 and 430 showed average heat insulation abilities. The solidification conditions in the mould during casting of steel grades 304, 321, and 409L matched the solidification requirements of the corresponding steel grades. However, the basicity of the powder for steel grade 430 should be decreased a little in order to improve the lubrication function and counteract sticking tendencies. Perovskite crystals, which usually precipitate at relatively high temperature, were found in the film taken during casting of steel grade 321. This is harmful in view of the safety of the casting process and the surface quality of the slab.     

F-free mould powders for low carbon steel slab casting – technological parameters and industrial trials

The choice of the mould powder for slab casting is a difficult task because mould powders have many important functions during the continuous casting of steel. CaF₂ is a key ingredient in conventional mould slags since it reduces the viscosity, the liquidus temperature and the break temperature. Fluorine in mould powders is undesirable from the environmental and health points of view due to the following reasons: (i) evolves easily from slags, producing health-injurious gaseous substances, such as hydrofluoric acid; (ii) creates problems for storage and utilisation of solid waste and (iii) causes machinery corrosion. Aim of the present work is to describe the development of a new F-free mould powder for low carbon steel slab casting replacing CaF₂ with B₂O₃. Laboratory tests and industrial trials were performed considering the technological parameters viscosity, break temperature and crystallisation tendency. From laboratory tests it was concluded that important technological parameters are similar when comparing the F-bearing mould powder (reference) and the new F-free B-bearing mould powder for low carbon steel slab casting: viscosity at 1300°C, break temperature, and crystallisation tendency. It was observed during industrial trials that a significant decrease of the submerged entry nozzle erosion was observed. The results were similar when comparing the F-bearing and the F-free performance: slag pool thickness measurements, melting behaviour, Al₂O₃ absorption, mould powder consumption and slabs superficial quality.     

CSP薄板坯连铸低碳钢结晶器保护渣的研究

高拉速薄板坯连铸保护渣与常规板坯连铸保护渣在物理性能上有较大差异，通过对保护渣理化性能、熔化特性的研究，确定了适合高拉速薄板坯低碳钢连铸用保护渣的理化指标。     

Continuous casting mould powder evaluation

Abstract

A continuous casting mould powder must satisfy various requirements including thermal insulation, chemical insulation, inclusion absorption, lubrication, and promotion of uniform heat transfer from the solidifying steel strand to the copper mould. The relative importance of these properties varies according to the type of steel cast, the prevailing casting conditions, and the end steel requirements. Development of mould powders at Corus UK Ltd involves plant based trials of different powders whose properties influence the above characteristics of which heat transfer is a major consideration. Particular use is made of mould thermal monitoring which, although primarily designed for sticker breakout detection, is now finding increasing use as an investigative tool in mould slag assessment. Both static and dynamic plant data are now available relating mould slag heat transfer performance to casting conditions and this paper describes some recent investigative work carried out by the Aluminium & Steel Casting Department of Teesside Technology Centre, Corus UK Ltd. The study shows that using a combination of plant based observation and laboratory analysis, a greater depth in understanding of mould powder performance can be realised, yielding important information for future powder development.     

Fluorine‐Free Mould Powders for Billet Casting – Technological Parameters and Industrial Tests

There is a clear trend in industry to eliminate fluorine from metallurgical slags. Regarding the continuous casting process, fluorine in mould powders is undesirable due to the following reasons: (i) evolves easily from slags producing health‐injurious gaseous substances like hydrofluoric acid, (ii) creates problems for storage and utilization of solid waste, and (iii) causes machinery corrosion. A collaboration among universities, mould powder supplier, and steel producer was established, aiming for the development of a new F‐free mould powder for billet casting. Firstly, technological parameters for a particular composition were determined: melting characteristics, viscosity, melting behavior, and crystallization tendency. Afterwards, industrial trials were performed in a Brazilian steelworks, doing some evaluations during the continuous casting process, such as ΔT between water cooling inlet and outlet, slag pool thickness, melting performance, powder consumption, Al₂O₃ pick‐up, and effect on SEN erosion. Comparable surface quality for the billets was obtained when using the F‐free mould powder, since the amount of scrap produced during the rolling process was not critical.     

Evolution or revolution?—a new era in billet casting

The billet industry was born in the mid-1960s as a series of scrap recycling plants, at a time when environmental awareness was not even in vogue. Out of the determination and vision of the individuals who forged this industry, a new philosophy of steelmaking emerged. A philosophy based on low man-hours per tonne, and profit sharing gave birth to the highly profitable minimill concept that has now gripped steel production in the flat-rolled area. The billet industry has evolved from being primary suppliers of reinforcing bar to being competitive in high quality products while retaining the original production philosophy. A quiet revolution is now underway in this industry with casting speeds approaching those of thin slab continuous casting. Mould powder lubrication and other practices common to slab casting, such as controlled feeding of liquid steel from tundish to mould in place of metering nozzles are becoming common place. This paper delineates some of the challenges facing the industry which is in the throes of a revolution. Professor Alexander McLean’s early work on the importance of controlling fluid flow in the tundish and its impact on turbulence in the mould is emerging as being critical to the challenge of producing high quality billets at high casting speeds.     

A short history of mould powders

The success of the continuous casting process owes much to the performance of the mould powder. Mould powders have been used for more than 50 years and our knowledge of how they work and perform has increased steadily over this time. The performance of the mould powder should always be judged by how it affects the steel shell. Since this is frequently due to the nature of the slag film formed between the shell and the mould, the performance of the mould powder can also be judged by the nature of the slag film formed. However, other factors (such as the depth of the molten pool) must also be taken into account since they affect the formation of defects. Our current state of knowledge on how mould powders work is summarised.     

Three-dimensional analysis of molten steel flow in slab continuous casting mould with rotated ports in submerged entry nozzle

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a three-dimensional (3D) analysis system capable of analysing the flow field of molten steel in the slab continuous casting mould with rotated ports in the submerged entry nozzle. The ultimate goal is to obtain the optimal design for the entry ports of the submerged nozzle, which can introduce favourable flow patterns to remove non-metallic inclusions and avoid entrapment of molten slag and casting powder to produce steel slab of high cleanliness. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics technique, Sola-Surf, is employed to conduct the 3D fluid flow analysis. The technique has the capability of treating fluid flow problems with a free surface that slightly vibrates. The slightly vibrating free surface presents fairly accurately the behaviour of the molten slag–casting powder layer in the continuous casting mould. The developed simulation system is then tested on a slab continuous casting mould to analyse the fluid flow behaviour of molten steel under various nozzle designs. The design conditions include submerged depth of the nozzle, tilted angle of the nozzle port, and rotated angle of the nozzle port. The results of the simulations show that of the various design factors rotation of the nozzle entry ports has the greatest effect on the flow pattern. It can prolong the residence time of the molten steel and stabilise the molten slag–casting powder layer, which is very favourable for obtaining continuous casting slag of high cleanliness.     

连铸漏钢原因分析

通过对某厂连铸漏钢时结晶器内残留坯壳的剖析和工艺分析,查明漏钢的原因是结晶器内卷渣造成局部坯壳过薄,该处坯壳在拉出结晶器后被撕裂所致.采用预熔性保护渣并改善工艺操作后避免了漏钢事故的发生.     

萤石含量对结晶器保护渣物理性质和渣膜矿相结构的影响

针对亚包晶钢连铸板坯易发生表面纵裂现象,研究和分析了萤石配加量对保护渣（/%:2937水泥熟料,8硼砂,20石英砂,15硅灰石,12纯碱,816萤石）熔化温度、黏度和平均热流密度以及渣膜矿相结构的影响。结果表明,随着萤石含量的增加,渣膜结晶率和枪晶石含量升高,硅灰石含量降低,同时保护渣熔化温度、黏度、平均热流密度降低;提出萤石配加量为12%时,能满足亚包晶连铸板坯对渣膜矿相结构的要求,并改善了铸坯质量。     

FTSC薄板坯连铸中碳钢保护渣研究及开发

针对唐钢FTSC薄板坯连铸所产生的板坯裂纹、表面夹渣、卷渣及漏钢现象进行保护渣生产试验研究与理论分析。研究结果表明,组分变化对保护渣熔化温度和粘度等指标有着重要的影响。通过实验室对保护渣组份及其变化对其性能影响的研究,结合唐钢FTSC薄板坯连铸自身特点,设计出保护渣基本配方,且在不断试验改进中,最终开发出适合唐钢薄板坯连铸用中碳钢保护渣C2.     

外加液态保护渣连铸生产实践与前景展望

 外加液态保护渣可以提高铸坯质量和可浇性。在某厂板坯连铸机上,分别采用液态保护渣和固态保护渣进行多钢种浇注试验,对比液态保护渣和固态保护渣消耗量、结晶器温度分布、拉坯摩擦力及铸坯质量,并对液态保护渣的应用前景进行展望。结果显示,液态保护渣比固态保护渣消耗量增加60%左右,结晶器温度分布更均匀,连铸拉坯摩擦力降低约15%,铸坯质量有所提高。这说明在连铸过程中,液态保护渣使结晶器和铸坯间传热更均匀;液态保护渣润滑效果更好,可以提高铸坯质量。同时,有望不添加F-、Na+等有害离子,改善环保问题。     

Mould lubrication and friction behaviour with hydraulic oscillators in slab continuous casting

Abstract

It is very important to obtain reliable lubrication from casting powder both at the meniscus and in the gap between strand and mould as it affects slab surface quality and caster productivity. With knowledge of mould friction, a quantitative insight into the behaviour of powder during caster operation is possible. In the present research, the friction was studied based on a slab continuous caster equipped with hydraulic oscillators. The effects of mould oscillation and the abrupt change of casting speed on mould friction force were evaluated, and the characteristics of lubrication behaviour in a casting sequence were investigated. In particular, a comparison between the mould friction force between sinusoidal oscillation mode and non-sinusoidal oscillation mode was made. Finally, the characteristics of friction before a breakout are discussed. The experimental and analytical results may contribute to the development of mould friction online measurement and more clearly learn the lubrication behaviour in different conditions.     

萤石含量对连铸保护渣结晶性能的影响

通过热丝法得出保护渣连续冷却转变（CCT）和时间-温度转变（TTT）曲线,并用偏光显微分析和X-射线衍射分析方法研究了萤石含量（8%~16%）对碱度1.0的薄板坯连铸结晶器保护渣结晶性能的影响。结果表明,萤石含量每增加2%,保护渣的临界冷却速度平均增加2.5℃;同一冷却速度下,随保护渣中萤石含量的增加,结晶温度升高,结晶率增大,有利于提高界面热阻,控制渣膜传热,减少铸坯表面裂纹产生;因萤石含量超过14%时,渣膜中大量生成结晶矿物枪晶石,对连铸润滑要求较高的钢种,应控制萤石含量≤14%。     

采用薄板坯连铸生产高表面质量冷轧钢板的可行性分析

薄板坯连铸由于拉速高,结晶器容量小,结晶器钢水液面波动高度和表面流速显著高于传统连铸,因此容易造成保护渣卷渣,这是薄板坯连铸生产高表面质量冷轧钢板钢种的主要困难所在。NUCOR、蒂森一克鲁伯等企业采用薄板坯连铸连轧工艺生产冷轧钢板的实践也表明,在表面质量方面与传统工艺产品尚有较大的差距。采用薄板坯连铸工艺生产优质冷轧钢种,应适当增加铸坯厚度,以降低拉速和增加结晶器对钢水流的缓冲作用,可采用120mm厚铸坯(结晶器出口),3m／min左右拉速。为了减少结晶器保护渣卷渣,应对中等厚度薄板坯连铸结晶器内钢水流动控制(SEN结构参数、SEN浸入深度、拉速等)、电磁制动、保护渣等开展深入的试验研究。