9th ECCC European Continuous Casting Conference – ECCC 2017

Non-metallic large inclusions are detrimental to most physical and chemical properties of steel and require a removal treatment. Inclusions can provide crack nucleation sites, surface defects, corrosion sensitivity and will reduce mechanical properties. Gas stirring in the ladle is commonly used in secondary steelmaking to homogenize chemical composition of alloy elements and temperature and...

The decrease of first slabs downgrades and the reduction of clogging on specific alloyed steel grades to increase product quality and extend casting sequence have been one of the priorities of Aperam Genk continuous casting team. High steel quality levels and particularly cleanliness have to be achieved at the beginning of the cast. Tundish filling has been studied along with the influence...

Steel cleanliness is a complex topic, which is influenced at almost every step in the production line. It starts on the liquid side in the converter and ends in the solidified slab, and is further topic to modification by heat-treatments or rolling. To produce and provide high quality steel, the steelmaker has to be able to control the inclusions in the as cast slab, where inclusions can range...

Superheat is essential for the continuous casting process. It is the amount of temperature above the Liquidus temperature, which ensures to keep the steel in liquid form until it reaches the mold. Once at the mold the superheat is removed and the steel is allowed to solidify in a controlled manner. If superheat is too high, the steel might not solidify in the mold causing breakouts. If...

The proposed paper describes the application of a measurement system (CasTemp® from Heraeus Electo-Nite) for observing the heat temperature in the tundish near the stopper continuously. The knowledge of the temperature in this region is essential for monitoring and estimating flow conditions in the tundish (and therefore making assessments on the separation behalf). Furthermore it’s very...

Non Metallic Inclusions in the slab may cause clean steel defects such as slivers, blow holes and laminations. The main inclusions found in these defects are mould slag particles, argon bubbles accompanied by alumina or sometimes by slag particles and calcium aluminates. In some occasions clogging products are found. When doing root cause analysis to the origin of these clean steel defects...

An innovative development was carried out to improve fatigue life of bearing steel at West Japan Works Kurashiki, JFE Steel Corporation. First, in order to prevent contamination at the continuous casting, sand filled in the nozzle of ladles is discharged just before starting continuous casting. Secondly, the main composition of tundish flux was modified for better melting...

In the continuous steel casting process ladle shroud is used as a protective device or device developing the pattern of liquid steel and non-metallic inclusions motion. With the appropriate construction of ladle shroud, the hydrodynamic structure of liquid steel motion can be effectively modified in the tundish. The facility under investigation is a single-nozzle slab tundish. For the examined...

The flow pattern in the tundish is critical for final product quality, as it influences the cleanliness of the steel entering the mold. Poor tundish practice can lead to surface level fluctuations, eroded refractory particles and cold regions, leading to defects in the cast product. On the other hand, by achieving an optimal flow pattern, it is possible to not only prevent inclusion formation...

The paper shows the results of the research obtained by industrial experiments with use of different dams in the tundish. The number and distribution of the inclusions for different positions of ultra-low carbon steel slabs were also analysed by Aspex. The industrial experimental results showed that: the average inclusions at dam without hole and with hole in the tundish are distributed...

There are chances of ambient air getting aspirated into the upper nozzle/ladle shroud region that connects ladle to a tundish due to the presence of a negative pressure zone. Inert-gas shrouding is carried out in these regions with the idea to create a protective blanket all around the above-mentioned refractory structures. However, on the downside, some Argon gas bubbles get aspirated into...

A level of steel in the tundish is changing during sequential continuous casting. The most significant decrease of the steel level occurs when replacing ladles. It is generally known that if the height of steel level in the tundish drops below a certain critical level, it may generate vortexes over the nozzles and as a consequence entrainment of tundish slag into individual casting strands can...

Non-metallic inclusion have a strong impact on the final product quality in steel production. Thus, inclusion removal from the melt is an important aspect of achieving the intended steel properties. In continuous casters the tundish can be utilized to enhance inclusion removal. One method to promote inclusion removal within the tundish is the installation of an argon bubble...

The paper will explain how to successfully implement a robotic solution from the initial idea to a working industrial solution. Primetals Technologies could call upon the past 10 years of experience in installation of Robot solutions in the harsh environment of steelmaking plants - the so called LiquiRob. To enhance an existing shroud manipulation system, the idea to connect the shroud with a...