The large-scale production of high-Ti steels is limited by the formation of Ti-containing oxides or nitrides in steel-slag reactions during continuous casting.These processes degrade mold flux properties,clog submerge...The large-scale production of high-Ti steels is limited by the formation of Ti-containing oxides or nitrides in steel-slag reactions during continuous casting.These processes degrade mold flux properties,clog submerged entry nozzles,form floaters in the molds,and produce various surface defects on the cast slabs.This review summarizes the effects of nonmetallic inclusions on traditional CaO-SiO_(2)-based(CS)mold fluxes and novel CaO-Al_(2)O_(3)-based(CA)low-or non-reactive fluxes containing TiO_(2),BaO,and B_(2)O_(3)additives to avoid undesirable steel,slag,and inclusion reactions,with the aim of providing a new perspective for research and practice related to balancing the lubrication and heat transfer of mold fluxes to promote smooth operation and reduce surface defects on cast slabs.For traditional CS mold flux,although the addition of solvents such as Na_(2)O,Li_(2)O,and B_(2)O_(3)can enhance flowability,steel-slag reactions persist,limiting the effectiveness of CS mold fluxes in high-Ti steel casting.Low-or non-reactive CA mold fluxes with reduced SiO_(2)content are a research focus,where adding other components can significantly change flux characteristics.Replacing CaO with BaO can lower the melting point and inhibit crystallization,allowing the flux to maintain good flowability at low temperatures.Replacing SiO_(2)with TiO_(2)can stabilize the viscosity and enhance heat transfer.To reduce the environmental impact,fluorides are replaced with components such as TiO_(2),B_(2)O_(3),BaO,Li_(2)O,and Na_(2)O for F-frce mold fluxes with similar lubrication,crystallization,and heat-transfer effects.When TiO_(2)replaces CaF_(2),it stabilizes the viscosity and enhances the heat conductivity,forming CaTiO_(3)and CaSiTiO_(5)phases instead of cuspidine to control crystallization.B_(2)O_(3)lowers the melting point and suppresses crystallization,forming phases such as Ca_(3)B_(2)O_(6)and Ca_(11)Si_(4)B_(2)O_(22).BaO introduces non-bridging oxygen to reduce viscosity and ensure flux flowability at low temperatures.However,further studies are required to determine the optimal mold flux compositions corresponding to the steel grades and the interactions between the various components of the mold flux.In the future,the practical application of new mold fluxes for high-Ti steel will become the focus of further verification to achieve a balance between lubrication and heat transfer,which is expected to minimize the occurrence of casting problems and slab defects.展开更多
Controlling molten steel flow in the mold and stabilizing the meniscus are critical challenges during the continuous casting,directly impacting the surface quality and internal quality of the final steel slab product....Controlling molten steel flow in the mold and stabilizing the meniscus are critical challenges during the continuous casting,directly impacting the surface quality and internal quality of the final steel slab product.The effects of electromagnetic swirling flow in nozzle(EMSFN)technology on molten steel flow in the mold during slab continuous casting under various casting speeds were investigated.A real-time adjustable EMSFN was developed,and a three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes turbulence mathematical model was established to simulate the flow field within the mold.The results demonstrate that the EMSFN effectively stabilizes the outflow from nozzle,reduces the impact depth and surface velocity of the molten steel,mitigates meniscus fluctuations,and promotes stable flow within the mold.However,a certain matching relationship exists between the casting speed and the current intensity.For the experimental medium-thick slab specifications,the optimal current intensities were found to be 100,130,and 200 A at casting speeds of 1.0,1.5,and 2.0 m/min,respectively.EMSFN can optimize the mold flow field under different casting speeds,providing theoretical support for improving the quality of continuously cast slab products.展开更多
Continuous casting of high-titanium steels face significant challenges due to steel-flux reactions,which will cause rapid compositional deviations and impair operational stability.A kinetic model to predict real-time ...Continuous casting of high-titanium steels face significant challenges due to steel-flux reactions,which will cause rapid compositional deviations and impair operational stability.A kinetic model to predict real-time mold flux composition evolution by integrating multicomponent mixed-transport-control theory with thermodynamics computing platform was developed in the current study.The model employed a cyclic time-step algorithm to compute thermodynamic equilibrium in reaction layer,mass transfer flux between reaction and bulk layers,and composition updates in reaction and bulk layers.The accuracy of the model was validated by plant trial data.The effect of casting parameters and initial compositions on the evolution of mold flux composition were investigated.The TiO_(2)accumulation and SiO_(2)consumption in mold flux under varying casting parameters was predicted.It was found that higher casting speeds accelerated compositional equilibrium,while the increase of mold flux consumption rates reduced TiO_(2)accumulation.The increase of pool depth resulted in slower consumption and accumulation rates of components like SiO_(2)and TiO_(2),prolonging the time to reach equilibrium.Additionally,the CaO-Al_(2)O_(3)-based flux suppressed the Ti-SiO_(2)reaction for the high-titanium steel continuous casting.However,the CaO-Al_(2)O_(3)-based flux should limited contents of Na_(2)O,MnO,and FeO to prevent additional TiO_(2)accumulation due to Ti-Na_(2)O,Ti-MnO,and Ti-FeO reactions.The model provided a reliable tool for understanding and optimizing the continuous casting process of high-titanium steels.展开更多
A new flow control technology in continuous casting process named permanent magnet flow control-mold(PMFC-Mold)was proposed,in which the permanent magnets are arranged in Halbach array near the narrow region of the mo...A new flow control technology in continuous casting process named permanent magnet flow control-mold(PMFC-Mold)was proposed,in which the permanent magnets are arranged in Halbach array near the narrow region of the mold.The behavior of molten steel flow and the fluctuation of molten steel/slag interface in the PMFC-Mold under different continuous casting speeds were investigated.Firstly,a physical experiment of liquid Ga-In-Sn alloy circulating flow was carried out in Perspex mold with Halbach’s permanent magnets(HPMs)to investigate the magnetic field distribution of HPMs and its impactful electromagnetic braking effect.The numerical simulation of 1450 mm×230 mm slab shows that a stronger magnetic field over 0.3-0.625 T is formed at the wide surface and the narrow surface of the mold,which provides an effective electromagnetic braking for controlling the impingement of molten steel jet and suppressing the fluctuation of molten steel/slag interface.The numerical simulation results show that in the PMFC-Mold,the region with the turbulent kinetic energy greater than 0.01 and 0.04 m^(2)s^(-2)on the upper backflow zone and near the narrow surface of the mold are significantly reduced.The maximum turbulent kinetic energy of the submerged entry nozzle(SEN)jet in front of the narrow surface is significantly reduced,and the SEN jet moves downward before impacting the narrow surface of the mold.In the PMFC-Mold,the region with the surface velocity greater than 0.2 m s^(-1)on the steel/slag interface is eliminated,the flow pattern and fluctuation profiles on the molten steel/slag interface become regular on both sides of SEN,and the vortex near SEN disappears.The maximum fluctuation height of molten steel/slag interface is controlled below 2.59 and 5.40 mm corresponding to the casting speed of 1.6 and 2.0 m min-1,respectively.展开更多
The influence of filling parameters including pouring temperature, filling speed, boost pressure and synchronous pressure on the fatigue of A357 alloy produced by counter pressure plaster casting was studied. The Tagu...The influence of filling parameters including pouring temperature, filling speed, boost pressure and synchronous pressure on the fatigue of A357 alloy produced by counter pressure plaster casting was studied. The Taguchi method was used to investigate the relationship between the fatigue performance and filling parameters. The results show that filling speed is the most significant factor among the four parameters. Synchronous pressures is less influential on the fatigue life when the value of synchronous pressure is from 400 kPa to 600 kPa.展开更多
Because of the addition of significant quantities of aluminum and manganese, the great challenge of casting 20Mn23Al nonmagnetic steel is to design a mold slag that is chemically compatible with this steel composition...Because of the addition of significant quantities of aluminum and manganese, the great challenge of casting 20Mn23Al nonmagnetic steel is to design a mold slag that is chemically compatible with this steel composition. A new mold slag with low melting point and low basicity was proposed. The initial slag （the base mold slag） and two corresponding mold slags sampled after 8 min and 15 min were investigated, and the changes of mold slag composition and properties of molten slag were discussed. The results showed that the slag quickly changed in chemical composition to a slag that contained a small quantity of silica and a larger quantity of alumina, and the basieity increased obviously; the heat flux density through the slag film decreased slightly compared with the slag film at 0 min, 8 min and 15 min; the mold slag used for nonmagnetic steel was precipitated as CaF2 crystals. The casting experi- ment shows that the slab has good surface quality without longitudinal face cracks and slag inclusions; the Al2O3 content in the molten slag pool increased with time at the beginning stage, and it can approach equilibrium state after about 600 s.展开更多
Using molten Pb-Sn-Bi alloy, the meniscus shape under high frequency magnetic field of φ100 mm round billet caster was investigated. The effect of some parameters on meniscus shape was studied. The results show that ...Using molten Pb-Sn-Bi alloy, the meniscus shape under high frequency magnetic field of φ100 mm round billet caster was investigated. The effect of some parameters on meniscus shape was studied. The results show that for a mold with 12 segments, the meniscus shape is relatively stable. With increasing power input, the menis- cus height increases with intensification of fluctuation. For the given caster, the reasonable power input is about 70 kW. The coil should be near to the top of mold and/or the initial meniscus should be near to the center of the coil. The lower the frequency, the higher is the meniscus height. With increasing frequency, the free surface is more flattened and meniscus becomes more stable. In practice, the power input should be increased simultaneously with frequency. The optimal frequency is about 20 kHz.展开更多
In a continuous casting process, it is essential to prevent the surface defects which are caused by the mold powder entrapments. It is well known that the decrease in the molten steel flow velocity just under the free...In a continuous casting process, it is essential to prevent the surface defects which are caused by the mold powder entrapments. It is well known that the decrease in the molten steel flow velocity just under the free surface is one of the most effective methods for the prevention of mold powder entrapments. For this purpose, the electro-magnetic level stabilizer （EMLS） has been developed, which is applied to a low frequency alternating magnetic field moving from the narrow face of the mold to the mold center below the nozzle exits. In this study, the effect of the EMLS on the molten steel flow is investigated. Numerical simulation of the electromagnetic field and the molten steel flow in a mold were carried out. Simulation results indicate that, due to the electromagnetic force, the molten steel is forced to flow toward the magnetic field traveling direction in the region where the magnetic field is imposed. The molten steel flow is decelerated in proportion to the imposed electromagnetic force. Consequently, the molten steel flows toward the mold center near the free surface with a smaller imposed electromagnetic force, and it flows toward the nozzle at the nozzle side and toward the narrow face at the narrow face side with a larger imposed electromagnetic force. However, the magnitude of the electromagnetic force is decided by the current intensity and frequency, a suitable imposed electric current can be chosen to minimize the flow velocity and also the amount of mold powder entrapments.展开更多
The aim of this paper was to study the reaction between a Ti-6Al-4V alloy and boron nitride based investment shell molds used for investment casting titanium. In BN based investment shell molds, the face coatings are ...The aim of this paper was to study the reaction between a Ti-6Al-4V alloy and boron nitride based investment shell molds used for investment casting titanium. In BN based investment shell molds, the face coatings are made of pretreated hexagonal boron nitride （hBN） with a few yttria （Y2O3） and colloidal yttria as binder. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy was melted in a controlled atmosphere induction furnace with a segment water-cooled copper crucible. The cross-section of reaction interface between Ti alloys and shell mold was investigated by electron probe micro-analyzer （EPMA） and microhardness tester. The results show that the reaction is not serious, the thickness of the reacting layer is about 30-50 μm, and the thickness of α-case is about 180-200 pro. Moreover the α-case formation mechanism was also discussed.展开更多
Combining with the physical model of level fluctuation in a thick slab continuous casting mold with the cross-section of 1500 mm×280 mm and argon blowing, the rationalities of estimating the level fluctuation by ...Combining with the physical model of level fluctuation in a thick slab continuous casting mold with the cross-section of 1500 mm×280 mm and argon blowing, the rationalities of estimating the level fluctuation by three traditional quantitative approaches were discussed, and the effects of gas flowrate, casting speed, and the immersion depth of submerged entry nozzle （SEN） on the level fluctuation were also investigated. As a result, it seems that three traditional quantitative approaches are not very suitable for estimating the level fluctuation in a mold with argon blowing, so a new approach for estimating level fluctuation in the mold with argon blowing was presented. The experimental results show that the level fluctuation is mainly in the region around the nozzle wall. When the casting speeds are larger than a certain value, there is the escape of large bubbles near the nozzle wall, which causes an obvious increase of level fluctuation. Furthermore, optimal process parameters, viz., the gas flowrate of 6 NL/min, the casting speed of 1.1 m/min, and the immersion depth of 170 mm, are presented to restrain the level fluctuation by a physical model.展开更多
Effects of different facing oxides, including including yttria colloidal and powders (Y/Y), yttria stabilized zirconia colloidal and powders (ZY/ZY), zirconia colloidal and powders (Z/Z) and zirconia colloidal and zi...Effects of different facing oxides, including including yttria colloidal and powders (Y/Y), yttria stabilized zirconia colloidal and powders (ZY/ZY), zirconia colloidal and powders (Z/Z) and zirconia colloidal and zireonite powders (Z/ZS) on the qualities of investment castings are studied. The outward appearance, microstructures, and microhardness profiles of castings made of commercial pure titanium, Ti--Al--V and Ti--Al--Zr are investigated. Castings made by shells with yttria as face materials have the least contamination and by zirconite shells have the most contamination. Thermodynamic of metal-mold reactions is also taken into consideration.展开更多
Mold is the heart of the continuous casting machine. Heat transfer and solidification in a water- cooled mold are the most important factors during the continuous casting of steel. For studying the temperature distrib...Mold is the heart of the continuous casting machine. Heat transfer and solidification in a water- cooled mold are the most important factors during the continuous casting of steel. For studying the temperature distribution of a mold wall, a simulated apparatus of mold was designed and experiments were performed by it. The measured results indicated that the mold wall temperature approaches the temperature of cooling-water. An equivalent thermal-conductivity coefficient was proposed and deduced on the basis of the conclusion of the experiments. This coefficient was applied to solve the heat transfer between the melt and cooling water, and to characterize the heat transfer capacity of the mold. By this equivalent thermal-conductivity coefficient, it is very easy and convenient to numerically simulate the solidification process of continuous casting. And the calculation results are in agreement with the experiments. The effects of custing speed and water flow rate on the mold temperature field were also discussed.展开更多
Heat transfer and deformation of initial solidification shell in soft contact continuous casting mold under high frequency electromagnetic field were analyzed using numerical simulation method; the relative electromag...Heat transfer and deformation of initial solidification shell in soft contact continuous casting mold under high frequency electromagnetic field were analyzed using numerical simulation method; the relative electromagnetic parameters were obtained from the previous studies. Owing to the induction heating of a high frequency electromagnetic field （20 kHz）, the thickness of initial solidification shell decreases, and the temperature of strand surface and slit copper mold increases when compared with the case without the electromagnetic filed. The viscosity of flux de- creases because of the induction heating of the high frequency electromagnetic field, and the dimension of the flux channel increases with electromagnetic pressure; thus, the deformation behavior of initial solidification shell was different before and after the action of high frequency electromagnetic field. Furthermore, the abatement mechanism of oscillation marks under high frequency electromagnetic field was explained.展开更多
The optimal parameters were determined by the water modeling of slab casting. It was found that there are mainly three types of mold powder entrapment in slab continuous casting, i.e., the entrapment caused by the she...The optimal parameters were determined by the water modeling of slab casting. It was found that there are mainly three types of mold powder entrapment in slab continuous casting, i.e., the entrapment caused by the shearing flow near the narrow face of mold, the entrapment caused by vortexes around the submerged entry nozzle （SEN）, and the entrapment caused by the Ar bubbling. Both the velocity of the surface flow and the level fluctuation of the liquids are enlarged with increasing the casting speed, reducing the submersion depth of SEN, decreasing the downward angles of the nozzle outlets, and increasing the Ar flowrate, all of which increase the tendency of mold powder entrapment. Among the four above-mentioned factors, casting speed has the largest effect.展开更多
The influences of casting speed variation on surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold during continuous casting were investigated with numerical simulation method.It was found that when the casting speed was ev...The influences of casting speed variation on surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold during continuous casting were investigated with numerical simulation method.It was found that when the casting speed was evenly decreased from 1.4 m·min-1 to 0.6 m·min-1,the increase of the surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold was observed only on time that was at the start of casting speed change.While,in experiment of increasing casting speed evenly from 0.6 m·min-1 to 1.4 m·min-1,the increase of the surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold was observed only at the time when the casting speed was stopped to increase after it had been increased to 1.4 m·min-1.For surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold which was produced during the casting speed evenly increasing or decreasing period and at the time when increasing or decreasing the casting speed at low casting speed level（0.6 m·min-1）,the influence of casting speed change is very small.In addition,it is found that,at high casting speed level（1.4 m·min-1）,even a little change of casting speed could result in remarkable increase of the surface fluctuation.Thus,at high casting speed,changing casting speed should be avoided or much slower speed changing rate should be used.展开更多
Turbulent flow, the transpor＇t of inclusions and bubbles, and inclusion removal by fluid flow, transport and by bubble flotation in the strand of the continuous slab caster are investigated using computational models...Turbulent flow, the transpor＇t of inclusions and bubbles, and inclusion removal by fluid flow, transport and by bubble flotation in the strand of the continuous slab caster are investigated using computational models, and validated through comparison with plant measurements of inclusions. Steady 3-D flow of steel in the liquid pool in the mold and upper strand is simulated with a finitedifference computational model using the standard k-εturbulence rondel. Trajectories of inclusions and bubhles tire calculated by integrating each local velocity, considering its drag and buoyancy forces, A ＂random walk＂ model is used to incorporate the effect of turbulent fluctuations on the particle motion. The attachment probability of inclusions on a bubble surface is investigated based on fundamental fluid flow simulations, incorporating the turbulent inclusion trajectory and sliding time of each individual inclusion along the bubble surface as a function of particle and bubble size. The chunge in inclusion distribution due to removal by bubble transport in the mold is calculated based on the computed attachment probability of inclusions on each bubble and the computed path length of the bubbles. The results indicate that 6%-10% inclusions are removed by fluid flow transport. 10% by bubble flotation, and 4% by entrapment to the submerged entry nozzle （SEN） walls. Smaller bubbles and larger inclusions have larger attachment probabilities. Smaller bubbles are more efficient for inclusion removal by bubble flotation, so Inng as they are not entrapped in the solidifying shell A larger gas flow rate favors inclusion removal by bubble flotation. The optimum bubble size should be 2-4mm.展开更多
At present, most TiAl components are produced by an investment casting process. Environmental and economic pressures have, however, resulted in a need for the industry to improve the current casting quality, reduce ma...At present, most TiAl components are produced by an investment casting process. Environmental and economic pressures have, however, resulted in a need for the industry to improve the current casting quality, reduce manufacturing costs and explore new markets for the process. Currently, the main problems for investment casting of TiAl alloys are cracks, porosities, and surface defects. To solve these problems, many studies have been conducted around the world, and it is found that casting defects can be reduced by improving composition and properties of the shell molds. It is important to make a summary for the related research progress for quality improvement of TiAl castings. So, the development on refractory composition of shell molds for TiAl alloy investment castings was reviewed, and research progress on deformability of shell mold for TiAl alloy castings both at home and abroad in recent years was introduced. The existing methods for deformability characterization and methods for improving the deformability of shell molds were summarized and discussed. The updated advancement in numerical simulation of TiAl alloy investment casting was presented, showing the necessity for considering the deformability of shell mold during simulation. Finally, possible research points for future studies on deformability of shell mold for TiAl alloy investment casting were proposed.展开更多
The solidification structure of a continuous casting large round billet was analyzed by a cellular-automaton-finite-element coupling model using the ProCAST software. The actual and simulated solidification structures...The solidification structure of a continuous casting large round billet was analyzed by a cellular-automaton-finite-element coupling model using the ProCAST software. The actual and simulated solidification structures were compared under mold electromagnetic stirring （MEMS） conditions （current of 300 A and frequency of 3 Hz）. Thereafter, the solidification structures of the large round billet were investigated under different superheats, casting speeds, and secondary cooling intensities. Finally, the effect of the MEMS current on the solidification structures was obtained under fixed superheat, casting speed, secondary cooling intensity, and MEMS frequency. The model accurately simulated the actual solidification structures of any steel, regardless of its size and the parameters used in the continuous casting process. The ratio of the central equiaxed grain zone was found to increase with decreasing superheat, increasing casting speed, decreasing secondary cooling intensity, and increasing MEMS current. The grain size obviously decreased with decreasing superheat and increasing MEMS current but was less sensitive to the casting speed and secondary cooling intensity.展开更多
Using a special coated sand as the material of the selected laser sintering (SLS), the authors test and investigate the strength change of the test samples in terms of different sintering parameters (scanning speed, l...Using a special coated sand as the material of the selected laser sintering (SLS), the authors test and investigate the strength change of the test samples in terms of different sintering parameters (scanning speed, laser power, sintering thickness, and so on). The characteristics of coated sand hardening by laser beam are analyzed. The sintered mold (or core) for given casting is poured with molten metal.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52204345 and 52474361)the Scientific Research Innovation Projects of Graduate Student of Jiangsu province,China(No.KYCX24_4184)。
文摘The large-scale production of high-Ti steels is limited by the formation of Ti-containing oxides or nitrides in steel-slag reactions during continuous casting.These processes degrade mold flux properties,clog submerged entry nozzles,form floaters in the molds,and produce various surface defects on the cast slabs.This review summarizes the effects of nonmetallic inclusions on traditional CaO-SiO_(2)-based(CS)mold fluxes and novel CaO-Al_(2)O_(3)-based(CA)low-or non-reactive fluxes containing TiO_(2),BaO,and B_(2)O_(3)additives to avoid undesirable steel,slag,and inclusion reactions,with the aim of providing a new perspective for research and practice related to balancing the lubrication and heat transfer of mold fluxes to promote smooth operation and reduce surface defects on cast slabs.For traditional CS mold flux,although the addition of solvents such as Na_(2)O,Li_(2)O,and B_(2)O_(3)can enhance flowability,steel-slag reactions persist,limiting the effectiveness of CS mold fluxes in high-Ti steel casting.Low-or non-reactive CA mold fluxes with reduced SiO_(2)content are a research focus,where adding other components can significantly change flux characteristics.Replacing CaO with BaO can lower the melting point and inhibit crystallization,allowing the flux to maintain good flowability at low temperatures.Replacing SiO_(2)with TiO_(2)can stabilize the viscosity and enhance heat transfer.To reduce the environmental impact,fluorides are replaced with components such as TiO_(2),B_(2)O_(3),BaO,Li_(2)O,and Na_(2)O for F-frce mold fluxes with similar lubrication,crystallization,and heat-transfer effects.When TiO_(2)replaces CaF_(2),it stabilizes the viscosity and enhances the heat conductivity,forming CaTiO_(3)and CaSiTiO_(5)phases instead of cuspidine to control crystallization.B_(2)O_(3)lowers the melting point and suppresses crystallization,forming phases such as Ca_(3)B_(2)O_(6)and Ca_(11)Si_(4)B_(2)O_(22).BaO introduces non-bridging oxygen to reduce viscosity and ensure flux flowability at low temperatures.However,further studies are required to determine the optimal mold flux compositions corresponding to the steel grades and the interactions between the various components of the mold flux.In the future,the practical application of new mold fluxes for high-Ti steel will become the focus of further verification to achieve a balance between lubrication and heat transfer,which is expected to minimize the occurrence of casting problems and slab defects.
基金financially supported by the Central Government Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Fund of Henan Province(Z20241471091)the Independent R&D Funds of State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy(41624025).
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U21A20117,52104347 and 52272078)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.N2409006)Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province(2023-MSBA-135)for the financial support.
文摘Controlling molten steel flow in the mold and stabilizing the meniscus are critical challenges during the continuous casting,directly impacting the surface quality and internal quality of the final steel slab product.The effects of electromagnetic swirling flow in nozzle(EMSFN)technology on molten steel flow in the mold during slab continuous casting under various casting speeds were investigated.A real-time adjustable EMSFN was developed,and a three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes turbulence mathematical model was established to simulate the flow field within the mold.The results demonstrate that the EMSFN effectively stabilizes the outflow from nozzle,reduces the impact depth and surface velocity of the molten steel,mitigates meniscus fluctuations,and promotes stable flow within the mold.However,a certain matching relationship exists between the casting speed and the current intensity.For the experimental medium-thick slab specifications,the optimal current intensities were found to be 100,130,and 200 A at casting speeds of 1.0,1.5,and 2.0 m/min,respectively.EMSFN can optimize the mold flow field under different casting speeds,providing theoretical support for improving the quality of continuously cast slab products.
基金support from the National Key R&D Program(Grant No.2023YFB3709900)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U22A20171)+1 种基金China Baowu Low Carbon Metallurgy Innovation Foundation(Grant No.BWLCF202315)the High Steel Center(HSC)at North China University of Technology and University of Science and Technology Beijing,China.
文摘Continuous casting of high-titanium steels face significant challenges due to steel-flux reactions,which will cause rapid compositional deviations and impair operational stability.A kinetic model to predict real-time mold flux composition evolution by integrating multicomponent mixed-transport-control theory with thermodynamics computing platform was developed in the current study.The model employed a cyclic time-step algorithm to compute thermodynamic equilibrium in reaction layer,mass transfer flux between reaction and bulk layers,and composition updates in reaction and bulk layers.The accuracy of the model was validated by plant trial data.The effect of casting parameters and initial compositions on the evolution of mold flux composition were investigated.The TiO_(2)accumulation and SiO_(2)consumption in mold flux under varying casting parameters was predicted.It was found that higher casting speeds accelerated compositional equilibrium,while the increase of mold flux consumption rates reduced TiO_(2)accumulation.The increase of pool depth resulted in slower consumption and accumulation rates of components like SiO_(2)and TiO_(2),prolonging the time to reach equilibrium.Additionally,the CaO-Al_(2)O_(3)-based flux suppressed the Ti-SiO_(2)reaction for the high-titanium steel continuous casting.However,the CaO-Al_(2)O_(3)-based flux should limited contents of Na_(2)O,MnO,and FeO to prevent additional TiO_(2)accumulation due to Ti-Na_(2)O,Ti-MnO,and Ti-FeO reactions.The model provided a reliable tool for understanding and optimizing the continuous casting process of high-titanium steels.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U1760206 and Grant No.51574083)the 111 Project(2.0)of China(No.BP0719037)for the financial support.
文摘A new flow control technology in continuous casting process named permanent magnet flow control-mold(PMFC-Mold)was proposed,in which the permanent magnets are arranged in Halbach array near the narrow region of the mold.The behavior of molten steel flow and the fluctuation of molten steel/slag interface in the PMFC-Mold under different continuous casting speeds were investigated.Firstly,a physical experiment of liquid Ga-In-Sn alloy circulating flow was carried out in Perspex mold with Halbach’s permanent magnets(HPMs)to investigate the magnetic field distribution of HPMs and its impactful electromagnetic braking effect.The numerical simulation of 1450 mm×230 mm slab shows that a stronger magnetic field over 0.3-0.625 T is formed at the wide surface and the narrow surface of the mold,which provides an effective electromagnetic braking for controlling the impingement of molten steel jet and suppressing the fluctuation of molten steel/slag interface.The numerical simulation results show that in the PMFC-Mold,the region with the turbulent kinetic energy greater than 0.01 and 0.04 m^(2)s^(-2)on the upper backflow zone and near the narrow surface of the mold are significantly reduced.The maximum turbulent kinetic energy of the submerged entry nozzle(SEN)jet in front of the narrow surface is significantly reduced,and the SEN jet moves downward before impacting the narrow surface of the mold.In the PMFC-Mold,the region with the surface velocity greater than 0.2 m s^(-1)on the steel/slag interface is eliminated,the flow pattern and fluctuation profiles on the molten steel/slag interface become regular on both sides of SEN,and the vortex near SEN disappears.The maximum fluctuation height of molten steel/slag interface is controlled below 2.59 and 5.40 mm corresponding to the casting speed of 1.6 and 2.0 m min-1,respectively.
文摘The influence of filling parameters including pouring temperature, filling speed, boost pressure and synchronous pressure on the fatigue of A357 alloy produced by counter pressure plaster casting was studied. The Taguchi method was used to investigate the relationship between the fatigue performance and filling parameters. The results show that filling speed is the most significant factor among the four parameters. Synchronous pressures is less influential on the fatigue life when the value of synchronous pressure is from 400 kPa to 600 kPa.
基金Item Sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China(50874125)
文摘Because of the addition of significant quantities of aluminum and manganese, the great challenge of casting 20Mn23Al nonmagnetic steel is to design a mold slag that is chemically compatible with this steel composition. A new mold slag with low melting point and low basicity was proposed. The initial slag （the base mold slag） and two corresponding mold slags sampled after 8 min and 15 min were investigated, and the changes of mold slag composition and properties of molten slag were discussed. The results showed that the slag quickly changed in chemical composition to a slag that contained a small quantity of silica and a larger quantity of alumina, and the basieity increased obviously; the heat flux density through the slag film decreased slightly compared with the slag film at 0 min, 8 min and 15 min; the mold slag used for nonmagnetic steel was precipitated as CaF2 crystals. The casting experi- ment shows that the slab has good surface quality without longitudinal face cracks and slag inclusions; the Al2O3 content in the molten slag pool increased with time at the beginning stage, and it can approach equilibrium state after about 600 s.
文摘Using molten Pb-Sn-Bi alloy, the meniscus shape under high frequency magnetic field of φ100 mm round billet caster was investigated. The effect of some parameters on meniscus shape was studied. The results show that for a mold with 12 segments, the meniscus shape is relatively stable. With increasing power input, the menis- cus height increases with intensification of fluctuation. For the given caster, the reasonable power input is about 70 kW. The coil should be near to the top of mold and/or the initial meniscus should be near to the center of the coil. The lower the frequency, the higher is the meniscus height. With increasing frequency, the free surface is more flattened and meniscus becomes more stable. In practice, the power input should be increased simultaneously with frequency. The optimal frequency is about 20 kHz.
文摘In a continuous casting process, it is essential to prevent the surface defects which are caused by the mold powder entrapments. It is well known that the decrease in the molten steel flow velocity just under the free surface is one of the most effective methods for the prevention of mold powder entrapments. For this purpose, the electro-magnetic level stabilizer （EMLS） has been developed, which is applied to a low frequency alternating magnetic field moving from the narrow face of the mold to the mold center below the nozzle exits. In this study, the effect of the EMLS on the molten steel flow is investigated. Numerical simulation of the electromagnetic field and the molten steel flow in a mold were carried out. Simulation results indicate that, due to the electromagnetic force, the molten steel is forced to flow toward the magnetic field traveling direction in the region where the magnetic field is imposed. The molten steel flow is decelerated in proportion to the imposed electromagnetic force. Consequently, the molten steel flows toward the mold center near the free surface with a smaller imposed electromagnetic force, and it flows toward the nozzle at the nozzle side and toward the narrow face at the narrow face side with a larger imposed electromagnetic force. However, the magnitude of the electromagnetic force is decided by the current intensity and frequency, a suitable imposed electric current can be chosen to minimize the flow velocity and also the amount of mold powder entrapments.
文摘The aim of this paper was to study the reaction between a Ti-6Al-4V alloy and boron nitride based investment shell molds used for investment casting titanium. In BN based investment shell molds, the face coatings are made of pretreated hexagonal boron nitride （hBN） with a few yttria （Y2O3） and colloidal yttria as binder. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy was melted in a controlled atmosphere induction furnace with a segment water-cooled copper crucible. The cross-section of reaction interface between Ti alloys and shell mold was investigated by electron probe micro-analyzer （EPMA） and microhardness tester. The results show that the reaction is not serious, the thickness of the reacting layer is about 30-50 μm, and the thickness of α-case is about 180-200 pro. Moreover the α-case formation mechanism was also discussed.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.100402017)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No.20080431153)Scientific Research Foundation for Doctor of Liaoning Province, China (No.20071020)
文摘Combining with the physical model of level fluctuation in a thick slab continuous casting mold with the cross-section of 1500 mm×280 mm and argon blowing, the rationalities of estimating the level fluctuation by three traditional quantitative approaches were discussed, and the effects of gas flowrate, casting speed, and the immersion depth of submerged entry nozzle （SEN） on the level fluctuation were also investigated. As a result, it seems that three traditional quantitative approaches are not very suitable for estimating the level fluctuation in a mold with argon blowing, so a new approach for estimating level fluctuation in the mold with argon blowing was presented. The experimental results show that the level fluctuation is mainly in the region around the nozzle wall. When the casting speeds are larger than a certain value, there is the escape of large bubbles near the nozzle wall, which causes an obvious increase of level fluctuation. Furthermore, optimal process parameters, viz., the gas flowrate of 6 NL/min, the casting speed of 1.1 m/min, and the immersion depth of 170 mm, are presented to restrain the level fluctuation by a physical model.
文摘Effects of different facing oxides, including including yttria colloidal and powders (Y/Y), yttria stabilized zirconia colloidal and powders (ZY/ZY), zirconia colloidal and powders (Z/Z) and zirconia colloidal and zireonite powders (Z/ZS) on the qualities of investment castings are studied. The outward appearance, microstructures, and microhardness profiles of castings made of commercial pure titanium, Ti--Al--V and Ti--Al--Zr are investigated. Castings made by shells with yttria as face materials have the least contamination and by zirconite shells have the most contamination. Thermodynamic of metal-mold reactions is also taken into consideration.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 599995442）.
文摘Mold is the heart of the continuous casting machine. Heat transfer and solidification in a water- cooled mold are the most important factors during the continuous casting of steel. For studying the temperature distribution of a mold wall, a simulated apparatus of mold was designed and experiments were performed by it. The measured results indicated that the mold wall temperature approaches the temperature of cooling-water. An equivalent thermal-conductivity coefficient was proposed and deduced on the basis of the conclusion of the experiments. This coefficient was applied to solve the heat transfer between the melt and cooling water, and to characterize the heat transfer capacity of the mold. By this equivalent thermal-conductivity coefficient, it is very easy and convenient to numerically simulate the solidification process of continuous casting. And the calculation results are in agreement with the experiments. The effects of custing speed and water flow rate on the mold temperature field were also discussed.
基金Item Sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China (59734080)
文摘Heat transfer and deformation of initial solidification shell in soft contact continuous casting mold under high frequency electromagnetic field were analyzed using numerical simulation method; the relative electromagnetic parameters were obtained from the previous studies. Owing to the induction heating of a high frequency electromagnetic field （20 kHz）, the thickness of initial solidification shell decreases, and the temperature of strand surface and slit copper mold increases when compared with the case without the electromagnetic filed. The viscosity of flux de- creases because of the induction heating of the high frequency electromagnetic field, and the dimension of the flux channel increases with electromagnetic pressure; thus, the deformation behavior of initial solidification shell was different before and after the action of high frequency electromagnetic field. Furthermore, the abatement mechanism of oscillation marks under high frequency electromagnetic field was explained.
文摘The optimal parameters were determined by the water modeling of slab casting. It was found that there are mainly three types of mold powder entrapment in slab continuous casting, i.e., the entrapment caused by the shearing flow near the narrow face of mold, the entrapment caused by vortexes around the submerged entry nozzle （SEN）, and the entrapment caused by the Ar bubbling. Both the velocity of the surface flow and the level fluctuation of the liquids are enlarged with increasing the casting speed, reducing the submersion depth of SEN, decreasing the downward angles of the nozzle outlets, and increasing the Ar flowrate, all of which increase the tendency of mold powder entrapment. Among the four above-mentioned factors, casting speed has the largest effect.
文摘The influences of casting speed variation on surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold during continuous casting were investigated with numerical simulation method.It was found that when the casting speed was evenly decreased from 1.4 m·min-1 to 0.6 m·min-1,the increase of the surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold was observed only on time that was at the start of casting speed change.While,in experiment of increasing casting speed evenly from 0.6 m·min-1 to 1.4 m·min-1,the increase of the surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold was observed only at the time when the casting speed was stopped to increase after it had been increased to 1.4 m·min-1.For surface fluctuation of the molten steel in mold which was produced during the casting speed evenly increasing or decreasing period and at the time when increasing or decreasing the casting speed at low casting speed level（0.6 m·min-1）,the influence of casting speed change is very small.In addition,it is found that,at high casting speed level（1.4 m·min-1）,even a little change of casting speed could result in remarkable increase of the surface fluctuation.Thus,at high casting speed,changing casting speed should be avoided or much slower speed changing rate should be used.
文摘Turbulent flow, the transpor＇t of inclusions and bubbles, and inclusion removal by fluid flow, transport and by bubble flotation in the strand of the continuous slab caster are investigated using computational models, and validated through comparison with plant measurements of inclusions. Steady 3-D flow of steel in the liquid pool in the mold and upper strand is simulated with a finitedifference computational model using the standard k-εturbulence rondel. Trajectories of inclusions and bubhles tire calculated by integrating each local velocity, considering its drag and buoyancy forces, A ＂random walk＂ model is used to incorporate the effect of turbulent fluctuations on the particle motion. The attachment probability of inclusions on a bubble surface is investigated based on fundamental fluid flow simulations, incorporating the turbulent inclusion trajectory and sliding time of each individual inclusion along the bubble surface as a function of particle and bubble size. The chunge in inclusion distribution due to removal by bubble transport in the mold is calculated based on the computed attachment probability of inclusions on each bubble and the computed path length of the bubbles. The results indicate that 6%-10% inclusions are removed by fluid flow transport. 10% by bubble flotation, and 4% by entrapment to the submerged entry nozzle （SEN） walls. Smaller bubbles and larger inclusions have larger attachment probabilities. Smaller bubbles are more efficient for inclusion removal by bubble flotation, so Inng as they are not entrapped in the solidifying shell A larger gas flow rate favors inclusion removal by bubble flotation. The optimum bubble size should be 2-4mm.
基金financially supported by the Technical Development Foundation of China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology under project:Investment Casting Technology Research for TiAl Alloy Turbocharger Turbine
文摘At present, most TiAl components are produced by an investment casting process. Environmental and economic pressures have, however, resulted in a need for the industry to improve the current casting quality, reduce manufacturing costs and explore new markets for the process. Currently, the main problems for investment casting of TiAl alloys are cracks, porosities, and surface defects. To solve these problems, many studies have been conducted around the world, and it is found that casting defects can be reduced by improving composition and properties of the shell molds. It is important to make a summary for the related research progress for quality improvement of TiAl castings. So, the development on refractory composition of shell molds for TiAl alloy investment castings was reviewed, and research progress on deformability of shell mold for TiAl alloy castings both at home and abroad in recent years was introduced. The existing methods for deformability characterization and methods for improving the deformability of shell molds were summarized and discussed. The updated advancement in numerical simulation of TiAl alloy investment casting was presented, showing the necessity for considering the deformability of shell mold during simulation. Finally, possible research points for future studies on deformability of shell mold for TiAl alloy investment casting were proposed.
文摘The solidification structure of a continuous casting large round billet was analyzed by a cellular-automaton-finite-element coupling model using the ProCAST software. The actual and simulated solidification structures were compared under mold electromagnetic stirring （MEMS） conditions （current of 300 A and frequency of 3 Hz）. Thereafter, the solidification structures of the large round billet were investigated under different superheats, casting speeds, and secondary cooling intensities. Finally, the effect of the MEMS current on the solidification structures was obtained under fixed superheat, casting speed, secondary cooling intensity, and MEMS frequency. The model accurately simulated the actual solidification structures of any steel, regardless of its size and the parameters used in the continuous casting process. The ratio of the central equiaxed grain zone was found to increase with decreasing superheat, increasing casting speed, decreasing secondary cooling intensity, and increasing MEMS current. The grain size obviously decreased with decreasing superheat and increasing MEMS current but was less sensitive to the casting speed and secondary cooling intensity.
文摘Using a special coated sand as the material of the selected laser sintering (SLS), the authors test and investigate the strength change of the test samples in terms of different sintering parameters (scanning speed, laser power, sintering thickness, and so on). The characteristics of coated sand hardening by laser beam are analyzed. The sintered mold (or core) for given casting is poured with molten metal.
