9th ECCC European Continuous Casting Conference – ECCC 2017

Fluorine is a crucial component in mould fluxes with a concentration that may reach and in some cases exceed 10% in weight. Fluorine works primarily as a fluxer and chain breaker, its effects include lowering of surface tension, lowering of melting temperature and lowering of viscosity. However serious drawbacks come from use of raw materials containing this element, such as enhanced corrosion activity and toxic gas emission. Studies may be found in literature on partial or total substitution of fluorine with other components with similar properties. This work aims to study thermal behavior of a mold flux for slab casting of crack sensitive steel grades in which fluorine has been partially substituted by other components. In dept characterization of modified low fluorine mould flux by DSC, XRD and laser flash analysis proves very consistent thermal properties of this material compared to standard mould fluxes. Preliminary plant results validate formulative approach and characterization methodology.