Behavior of carbon and nitrogen during the continuous casting of IF-type steels with the use of different slag-forming compositions

Abstract

In attempting to restrain the increase in the carbon content of IF steels during their casting, two of the key factors to be considered are lowering the carbon content of the charge materials and selecting the correct processes for forming the slag in the tundish and the mold. Optimizing slag formation in turn better protects the steel from secondary oxidation and results in a smaller increase in the steel’s nitrogen content. Optimization of the use of slag-forming mixtures has allowed steelmakers to reduce the increase in the carbon and nitrogen contents of the steel by 20%. The results of the study reported here have made it possible to improve the IF steel production method used in the continuous-casting section of the oxygen converter shop at the Severstal’ Metallurgical Combine.