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ISIJ International,
in
(1
R& D
1)
Now
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,
I OOJapan.
R&D
R& D
Now
final
ln order to produce clean stainless steel, the inclusion softening technology and the large inclusion removal
technology are important. Then, to elucidate the origin of inclusion in s[abs and biflets, experiments were
conducted, adding a tracer to AODslag and tundish slag. To control the composition of inclusions, a
thermodynamiccalcu lation model wasdeveloped. And, to elucidate the characteristics of floating separation
of large inclusions in the tundish, tests using the water model were conducted. The following results were
obtained:
The inclusions in stainless steel were caused by the AODslag suspended in the molten steel which
not removed in the tundish but carried over into the cast shapes.
(2)
The thermodynamic calculation model in which the suspended slag is considered was developed,
The composition of inclusions cou]d be predicted by this model, In the actual process, the precipitation of
MgO-Al=0,spinel in inclusion was prevented by reducing the MgOand Al,O, contents of the AODslag.
(3)
For the removal of large inclusions in the tundish, an increase in residence time is particularly
In the actual casting, the quality of stainless steel products
effective,
were improved by controlling the
weight of steel and the residence time in the tundish.
(1
is
stainless
KEYWORDS:
clean steel;
steel;
non-metallic
inclusions;
1.
Introduction
2.
To meet increasingly
requirements for
development of technologies for producing clean cast shapes has become
indispensable.
For example, the inclusion softening
technology for prevention of cracking in stainless steel
thosc for springs, extra fine wire
wire rods (particularly
and cold forging) and the large inclusion removal technology for the prevention of surface defects in cold-rolled
stainless steel sheets (particularly
those requiring mirror
finish) are important.
The present paper describes the results of the experiments on the following three points which were
conducted with a view to producing clean stainless steel:
1)
Elucidation ofthe origin ofinclusion by experiments
using tracers,
2)
Control ofthe composition ofinclusions by utilizing
the
3)
severe quality
stainless
thermodynamiccalculation
Removalof
model test.
large inclusions
in
Figure
shows the stainless steel manufacturing procthe
Steelmaking Plant of Nippon Steel Hikari
ess at
Works. The capacity of this process is 60 t/heat. The raw
materials are melted in an electric furnace and the molten
metal from the furnace is decarburized, deoxidized and
furnace. After that, the steel
desulfurized in an
composition is finally adjusted and its temperature is
controlled to the level suitable for casting by bubbling
argon gas into the ladle by equipment called CTC
(Composition and Temperature Control). Then the steel
is cast by
a continuous caster. Hikari Works has three
AOD
1CCM),vertical
horizontal
method, and
the tundish by water
M*Iti~g
1996
ISIJ
type
CCM
CCMfor billets
F~efi~i~g
CCMfor
for billets
(No.
slabs (No.
2CCM),and
3CCM).
(No.
co*positi.~
c.sti~g
Tempe*at~**
co"t,ol
Ele't*ic
F*ma'e
Fig.
typc
type
S1 28
1.
AOD
CTC
TD CC
sted manufacturing process at the stedmaki*g plant of Nippon steel Hikarj wo*ks (capacjty
is 60 t/heat)
staintess
ISIJ Internatlonal,
Elucidation
3.
Vol.
36 (1996). Supplement
composition or the removal of inclusions in the tundish
Experimental Method
elucidate
the origin of inclusion formation in slabs
To
billets,
experiment was conducted, adding about
and
300 kg-SrC03 (converted into SrOin the slag) as a tracer
slag at the time of tapping (Case l) and tundish
to
slag (Case 2). Thc main casting conditions are given in
Table I and the test conditions are shownin Fig. 2.
The samples for investigation of inclusions were taken
from cast shapes. The composition of inclusions was
(Electron Probe X-ray Microanalyzed by EPMA
3.
AOD
analyzer)
3.2.
referred
Al203
to as "large inclusions")
are CaO-Si02-MgOslag inclusions.
The probable reason for the
AOD
ta pping.
AODslag
to
(Case
Main casting
slag
Machine Type
Mold Size
143mmX 1245mm
150mmSquare
Casting Speed
0.9m/min
1.8m/min
Tundish Capacity
Max. 7ton
Max. 7ton
Ladle
Istrand
Vertical
(
(
E,
Mold
steel as nuclei.
The molten
(2)
steel
and inclusions
are in equi-
librium.
4.2.
Mn
Si,
Results of Analysis
Figure
MgO
10 O/.
phase
diagram on which the results of calculation of changes
in the composition of inclusions are showntogether with
the changes in the composition of inclusions larger than
furin the processes from tapping of the
20
AOD
pm
nace to casting.
)
)
on
assumption that the quantity of suspended slag is approximately 75 g per ton of steel almost agree with the
Tundish slag
Ca5eI : without SrO
Case2: with SrO
Tundish
AOD
Ar-Seal
As
was
2strands
AODslag
Experimental Method
During the production of stainless steel, the samples
of molten steel and cast shapes were taken at the
respective processes, ranging from the ladle after tapping
furnace to casting, and the compositions
from the
slag
of
and inclusions were analyzed.
A model for predicting the composition of inclusions
steel
in stainless
by employing the thermodynamic
calculation method was developed. The results of calculation by this model were comparedwith the actual
compositions of inclusions.
For this model, the following two assumptions were
4.1.
AISI 304
AISI 304
Vertical
AOD
molten
Billet
Steel Grade
AOD
of inclusions
conditions.
Slab
that the
In the preceding chapter, it was clarified
inclusions were formed by the slag suspended in the
ladle after tapping from the
furnace. In the present
chapter, a method for predicting and controlling
the
composition of inclusions in the molten steel on the
basis of the composition of
slag is discussed.
(1)
slag
Composition Control
made.
l),
Table
Inclusion
4.
AOD
AOD
I~7
are important.
actual results.4)
Immersion nozzle
to about
steel is
equivalent
in the
molten
Fig.
2.
Expenmentalcondrtrons
S1 29
O 1996 ISIJ
ISIJ
lnternational,
Vol.
36
(1
Si02
996). Supplement
Volt-meter or
Turbidity-meter
MgO= IO~
water
LKceor
Glass Bubble
Dam
80
Inclusion
e
A After Ar bubbling
v Tundish
l 150 ~~ mmbillet
After
.oty
60
(~
40
AODrefiriing
iadle
Calculation(1873-1723K)
IF~
AODSlag
~.~'~1~~~~leLA_
Suspension of
in
in ladle
Fig.
4.
Slag
T:Steel
Table
OJO_g:L/
20
Test No.
Head
1 (O)
2 (o)
3 (A)
4 (L)
5 ([])
310
Suspension of Slag
75g/T-Steel
O
O
mass%Al203
CaO
Fig.
3.
80
60
40
20
Al203
in
mohen
steel,
(1)
may, therefore, be said that the quantity of suspended slag assumedfor our analysis is reasonable. It
It
According to the results described above, the composition of inclusions in stainless steel can be predicted by the thermodynamic calculation model, in which
slag
the composition and quantity of suspended
in the molten steel are taken into account. Using this
model, the technology for controlling the composition
of inclusions in stainless steel was developed.
In the actual process, the precipitation of MgO-Al203
spinel in inclusion was prevented by reducing the
slag.
and Al203 contents of the
AOD
Characteristics
the Tundish
5.
As
31.8
31
with
.8
without
310
27.2
without
310
22.6
without
410
31
without
310
.8
Test
Fig. 4,
MgO
e~.'" = ~Cieil~Ci
Deadvolume:
Vd =1-e*.**
.*..'.*.*......
.......(1)
.(2)
Plug volume:
Totally
AOD
Test Method
4 schematically shows the water model
apparatus used for the test. This apparatus is a half scale
of the actual tundish which capacity is 7t. The test
conditions are shownin Table 2. The test wasconducted
under the condition where the Froude numberin the test
apparatus agreed with that in the actual process, thereby
to investigate the effect of changesin residence time with
changes in flow rate or the head in the tundish and the
effect of a dam the fioating separation of inclusions.
on
5.1.
Figure
@1996 ISIJ
Dam
was
from the residence time distribution obtained
from changes in KCI concentration and from the
described in Chap.
(Kg/min)
calculated
steel.
AOD
Flow Rate
considered that the deoxidation product is crystalwith the suspended slag as nuclei as the temperature decreases, causing changes in the composition of
molten
(mm)
tracer
lized
in
KCI Tracer
Test conditions.
As schematically shownin
is
inclusions
2.
sl 30
Here, Ci
is
In this
ISIJ International,
Vol.
36
it
is
separation of inclusions,
necessary to increase the volume ratio of the plug fiow
part where the metal flow is laminar.
For this purpose, the incorporation of a damor an
increase in residence time in the tundish is considered to
be effective.
Based on the above description, it maybe said that
the incorporation of a damor
an increases in residence
time in the tundish is neccessary to improve the characteristics
of inclusion removal in a small tudish.
In the actual casting, the quality of stainless steel
products were improved by controlling the weight of steel
and the residence time in the tundish.
o 75
70
65
OE
o SO
*
c
ou'
55
j 50
~5
~ 3O
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
5.0
996), Supplement
80
:~,Q
-~>
(1
5.
80
~_
~!.~~
75
:p
C]
6.
O A
70
o,:+'
(D
u'
q'
'::
uu
LH
cq, 60
O
u'::~
'l
.g
o
c
ll~
55
50
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
AOD
5.2.
6.
ratio
shapes.
between glass
Results of Test
17
Summary
41
(Test No. l) so as to
divide the tundish into the inlet side part and the outlet
side part, the inclusion removal ratio
was increased by
4'/.. This is because the tracer fioats
up in the inlet side
part and hence the quantity of the tracer entrapped in
the water being discharged is reduced.7)
Figure showsa comparison of the inclusion removal
ratio determined by the glass bubble test with that
obtained by the KCI tracer test.8) The removal ratios
determined by both tests alrnost agree.
Whena small tundish of tons in capacity is used,
the volume ratio of the completely mixed part is
as high
as 70 "/, but that of the plug flow part is about 20 */*. To
S1 31
(2)
The thermodynamic calculation model in which
the suspended slag is considered was developed. The
composition of inclusions could be predicted by this
model. In the actual process, the precipitation
of
MgO-Al203spinel in inclusion was prevented by reducing the
slag.
and Al203 contents of the
(3)
Forthe removal oflarge inclusions in the tundish,
an increase in residence time is particularly effective. In
the actual casting, the quality of stainless steel products
were improved by controlling the weight of steel and the
residence time in the tundish.
MgO
AOD
REFERENCES
l)
2)
(1990), 281.
3)
4)
5)
F.
6)
7)
8)
C 1996 ISIJ