Hardenability significantly impacts the distortion of gear during heat treatment,correlated to the uniformity of solute distribution in steel matrix.The experimental analysis was conducted on the macrostructure,solute...Hardenability significantly impacts the distortion of gear during heat treatment,correlated to the uniformity of solute distribution in steel matrix.The experimental analysis was conducted on the macrostructure,solute distribution,dendrite structure,and rod hardenability of 20CrMnTiH gear steel in continuously cast blooms and hot roller rods.The evaluation approach by the standards for the hardenability of gear steel rods and the corresponding blooms was analyzed,and the inheritance mechanism from solidification segregation to hardenability fluctuation of gear steel was revealed.The results indicate that semi-macroscopic spot segregation located in the equiaxed zone exhibits larger size,higher solute enrichment,and worse solute homogeneity,leading to significant solute fluctuations in the blooms and hardenability fluctuation in the rods.By increasing the liquid steel superheat from 35 to 40℃,reducing the mold electromagnetic stirring from 300 to 100 A,and implementing the soft reduction(SR)of 7 mm at the solidification end,the equiaxed ratio of the strand decreased from 26.42%to 6.69%.Consequently,the solute fluctuation range and standard deviation decrease significantly in the transverse section,while the maximum segregation ratio,average fluctuation range,and average standard deviation of solutes C,Cr,and Mn in the spot segregation decrease at the same time.At the meanwhile,the equiaxed ratio of the rod decreased from 24.89%to 4.09%,and the structure of the hardenability detection zone was transformed from equiaxed crystals to columnar crystals.Furthermore,the solute fluctuation range and standard deviation in the transverse section decreased,while the homogeneity in spot segregation was also improved.The hardness difference of A and B surfaces at J9 and J15 positions was smaller than 2 HRC,meeting the qualification standard for hardenability.展开更多
Solidification structure of casting strands significantly impacts the subsequent processing and service properties of the steel products,which correlates closely with the melt flow during the solidification process.Se...Solidification structure of casting strands significantly impacts the subsequent processing and service properties of the steel products,which correlates closely with the melt flow during the solidification process.Several abnormal solidification phenomena and segregation characteristics observed in slab casting are elucidated by referencing to their related flow patterns of molten steel calculated by a multi-field coupling model for actual casting conditions.Eventually,the effect of forced convection on the solidification structure was discussed.The results show that the forced convection generated by electromagnetic stirring and/or nozzle jet will remove the solute-enriched molten steel between the dendrite in front of the solidifying shell,and change solute distribution at the interface of dendrite tips,leading to the white bands and dendrite deflection.In the white band region,a dense dendrite structure without dendrite segregation appears.Moreover,forced convection results in a higher growth rate on the upstream side than the backflow side of the dendrite tip,promoting the columnar crystal deflection.In addition,dendrite fragmentation upon the forced convection during solidification will increase the equiaxed crystal ratio of the as-cast slab and the number of the spot-like semi-macrosegregation.The carbon extreme range decreased with the change in electromagnetic stirring process,indicating a significant improvement in the composition uniformity of the slab casting.It is suggested that the final quality of rolled products could be improved from the very beginning of casting and solidification through regulating the as-cast solidification structure.展开更多
Precipitation of carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides is an important factor influencing the formation of surface transverse cracks in the continuous casting of microalloyed steel, affecting the quality and yield of ...Precipitation of carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides is an important factor influencing the formation of surface transverse cracks in the continuous casting of microalloyed steel, affecting the quality and yield of the final product. Based on previous investigation, the precipitation sequence and temperature, position and mode, as well as the size, morphology, and number of different types of precipitates were reviewed. The effects of C, N, Nb, Ti, and V on the precipitation behavior and surface transverse cracks in continuous casting slabs were summarized, with a particular emphasis on the new achievements concerning Ti addition. The critical amounts of different elements to avoid serious surface cracks during continuous casting were proposed. The control mechanisms and industrial effects of composition optimization, cooling design, and chamfered mold configuration to improve surface transverse cracks in continuous casting slabs were also illustrated, and the recent application of surface microstructure control technology was emphasized. The characteristics, advantages, and shortcomings of existing theoretical and experimental methods in investigating continuous casting surface cracks regarding precipitation are finally discussed, and a new setup with advanced functions is introduced.展开更多
The continuous growth behavior of austenite grain in 20Cr peritectic steel was analyzed by experiment and theoretical modeling.The peculiar casting experiment with different cooling rates was achieved by multigradient...The continuous growth behavior of austenite grain in 20Cr peritectic steel was analyzed by experiment and theoretical modeling.The peculiar casting experiment with different cooling rates was achieved by multigradient operation scheme,and different morphologies in austenite grain were observed at the target location.The increase in austenite grain size with increasing cooling rate was firstly revealed in steels.The anomalous grain growth theoretically results from the mechanism of peritectic transformation transiting from the diffusional to massive type,and the additional energy storage stimulates the grain boundary migration.A new kinetic model to predict the growth behavior of austenite grain during continuous cooling process was developed,and the energy storage induced by massive type peritectic transformation was novelly taken into account.The parameters in the model were fitted by multiphase field modeling and experimental results.The kinetic model was finally verified by austenite grain size in laboratory test as well as the trial data at different locations in continuously cast bloom.The coarsening behavior of austenite grain during continuous casting was predicted based on the simulated temperature history.It is found that the grain coarsening occurs generally in the mold zone at high temperature for 20Cr steel and then almost levels off in the following process.The austenite finish transformation temperature Tγand primary cooling intensity show great influence on the grain coarsening.As Tγdecreases by 1℃,the austenite grain size decreases by 4μm linearly.However,the variation of Tγagainst heat flux is in a nonlinear relationship,suggesting that low cooling rate is much more harmful for austenite grain coarsening in continuous casting.展开更多
基金supported by the Weifang Science and Technology Development Plan Project in China(No.2023ZJ1166).
文摘Hardenability significantly impacts the distortion of gear during heat treatment,correlated to the uniformity of solute distribution in steel matrix.The experimental analysis was conducted on the macrostructure,solute distribution,dendrite structure,and rod hardenability of 20CrMnTiH gear steel in continuously cast blooms and hot roller rods.The evaluation approach by the standards for the hardenability of gear steel rods and the corresponding blooms was analyzed,and the inheritance mechanism from solidification segregation to hardenability fluctuation of gear steel was revealed.The results indicate that semi-macroscopic spot segregation located in the equiaxed zone exhibits larger size,higher solute enrichment,and worse solute homogeneity,leading to significant solute fluctuations in the blooms and hardenability fluctuation in the rods.By increasing the liquid steel superheat from 35 to 40℃,reducing the mold electromagnetic stirring from 300 to 100 A,and implementing the soft reduction(SR)of 7 mm at the solidification end,the equiaxed ratio of the strand decreased from 26.42%to 6.69%.Consequently,the solute fluctuation range and standard deviation decrease significantly in the transverse section,while the maximum segregation ratio,average fluctuation range,and average standard deviation of solutes C,Cr,and Mn in the spot segregation decrease at the same time.At the meanwhile,the equiaxed ratio of the rod decreased from 24.89%to 4.09%,and the structure of the hardenability detection zone was transformed from equiaxed crystals to columnar crystals.Furthermore,the solute fluctuation range and standard deviation in the transverse section decreased,while the homogeneity in spot segregation was also improved.The hardness difference of A and B surfaces at J9 and J15 positions was smaller than 2 HRC,meeting the qualification standard for hardenability.
基金The authors are grateful to Weifang Science and Technology Development Plan Project(2023ZJ1166)for supporting this work.
文摘Solidification structure of casting strands significantly impacts the subsequent processing and service properties of the steel products,which correlates closely with the melt flow during the solidification process.Several abnormal solidification phenomena and segregation characteristics observed in slab casting are elucidated by referencing to their related flow patterns of molten steel calculated by a multi-field coupling model for actual casting conditions.Eventually,the effect of forced convection on the solidification structure was discussed.The results show that the forced convection generated by electromagnetic stirring and/or nozzle jet will remove the solute-enriched molten steel between the dendrite in front of the solidifying shell,and change solute distribution at the interface of dendrite tips,leading to the white bands and dendrite deflection.In the white band region,a dense dendrite structure without dendrite segregation appears.Moreover,forced convection results in a higher growth rate on the upstream side than the backflow side of the dendrite tip,promoting the columnar crystal deflection.In addition,dendrite fragmentation upon the forced convection during solidification will increase the equiaxed crystal ratio of the as-cast slab and the number of the spot-like semi-macrosegregation.The carbon extreme range decreased with the change in electromagnetic stirring process,indicating a significant improvement in the composition uniformity of the slab casting.It is suggested that the final quality of rolled products could be improved from the very beginning of casting and solidification through regulating the as-cast solidification structure.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.FRF-TP-19-017A3)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51874026).
文摘Precipitation of carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides is an important factor influencing the formation of surface transverse cracks in the continuous casting of microalloyed steel, affecting the quality and yield of the final product. Based on previous investigation, the precipitation sequence and temperature, position and mode, as well as the size, morphology, and number of different types of precipitates were reviewed. The effects of C, N, Nb, Ti, and V on the precipitation behavior and surface transverse cracks in continuous casting slabs were summarized, with a particular emphasis on the new achievements concerning Ti addition. The critical amounts of different elements to avoid serious surface cracks during continuous casting were proposed. The control mechanisms and industrial effects of composition optimization, cooling design, and chamfered mold configuration to improve surface transverse cracks in continuous casting slabs were also illustrated, and the recent application of surface microstructure control technology was emphasized. The characteristics, advantages, and shortcomings of existing theoretical and experimental methods in investigating continuous casting surface cracks regarding precipitation are finally discussed, and a new setup with advanced functions is introduced.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.FRF-TP-19-017A3)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51874026).
文摘The continuous growth behavior of austenite grain in 20Cr peritectic steel was analyzed by experiment and theoretical modeling.The peculiar casting experiment with different cooling rates was achieved by multigradient operation scheme,and different morphologies in austenite grain were observed at the target location.The increase in austenite grain size with increasing cooling rate was firstly revealed in steels.The anomalous grain growth theoretically results from the mechanism of peritectic transformation transiting from the diffusional to massive type,and the additional energy storage stimulates the grain boundary migration.A new kinetic model to predict the growth behavior of austenite grain during continuous cooling process was developed,and the energy storage induced by massive type peritectic transformation was novelly taken into account.The parameters in the model were fitted by multiphase field modeling and experimental results.The kinetic model was finally verified by austenite grain size in laboratory test as well as the trial data at different locations in continuously cast bloom.The coarsening behavior of austenite grain during continuous casting was predicted based on the simulated temperature history.It is found that the grain coarsening occurs generally in the mold zone at high temperature for 20Cr steel and then almost levels off in the following process.The austenite finish transformation temperature Tγand primary cooling intensity show great influence on the grain coarsening.As Tγdecreases by 1℃,the austenite grain size decreases by 4μm linearly.However,the variation of Tγagainst heat flux is in a nonlinear relationship,suggesting that low cooling rate is much more harmful for austenite grain coarsening in continuous casting.
