5th International Conference on Advances in Solidification Processes (ICASP-5) 5th International Symposium on Cutting Edge of Computer Simulation of Solidification, Casting and Refining (CSSCR-5)

We have used a concentric solidification technique to study events occurring in the early stages of solidification during the continuous casting of steel. We have found that the major factors contributing to crack susceptibility are the fraction of δ-phase present prior to the occurrence of the peritectic reaction; the rate at which the δ-to-γ interface propagates and the extent of undercooling. In addition, we have studied the δ-to-γ solid-state phase transition in low-carbon iron alloys of non-peritectic compositon and have shown that at cooling rates pertinent to continuous casting, a massive-type of δ-to-γ phase transformation can occur. We shall present and discuss important aspects of the concentric solidification technique and present selected studies in more detail. More recently, we have developed and will discuss, a differential thermal analysis technique, which combines synchronically in-situ observations with thermal analyses, thereby making it possible to correlate bulk behavior with in-situ observations.