Modeling of the as-cast structure and macrosegregation in the continuous casting of a steel billet: Effect of M-EMS

Zhao Zhang, Menghuai Wu, Haijie Zhang, Susanne Hahn, Franz Wimmer, Andreas Ludwig, Abdellah Kharicha

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Abstract

Mold electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS) has been introduced into the continuous casting of steel billets to promote the formation of a central equiaxed zone; however, the formation mechanism of the equiaxed crystals and the effect of M-EMS on crystal transport are not fully understood. Currently, a three-phase volume average model was used to study the solidification in a billet continuous casting (195 mm × 195 mm). The modeling results showed that the main function of M-EMS in this type of billet casting is to promote superheat dissipation in the mold region, leaving the liquid core out of the mold region undercooled. Although both, heterogeneous nucleation and crystal fragmentation, are considered to be the origins of equiaxed crystals, M-EMS appeared to impact crystal fragmentation more effectively. A small portion of equiaxed crystals could be brought by the M-EMS induced swirling flow into the superheated zone (upper mold region) and remelted; most equiaxed crystals settled in the lower undercooled zone, where they continued to grow and form a central equiaxed zone. These simultaneous phenomena represent an important species/energy transport mechanism, influencing the as-cast structure and macrosegregation. Negative segregation occurred in the central equiaxed zone, positive segregation occurred at the border of the columnar zone, and a trail of negative segregation occurred in the subsurface region of the billet. Finally, parameter studies were performed, and it was found that the shielding effect of the copper mold, electrical isolation at the strand-mold interface, and relatively high electrical conductivity of the strand shell affect the M-EMS efficiency.
Original languageEnglish
Article number117434
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of materials processing technology
Volume301.2022
Issue numberMarch
Early online date19 Nov 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s)

Keywords

  • As-cast structure
  • Billet
  • Continuous casting
  • M-EMS
  • Macrosegregation
  • Solidification

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