Cyclic-deformation system for the reduction of continuous-cast slabs

Abstract

Introducing systems capable of profound reduction in a casting and rolling module improves the product quality, on account of the intense working of large continuous-cast slabs over the whole cross section and the production of uniform fine-grain structure of the metal, and also increases the cross section of continuous- cast billet. Analysis of the formation of nonmetallic inclusions and segregation in the axial zone of the thick rolled sheet is followed by analysis of the nonuniform deformation over the slag height in the reduction of large continuous-cast slabs at the 5000 mill at OAO Magnitogorskii Metallurgicheskii Kombinat. The structure of a cyclic-deformation system for preliminary deformation of large continuous-cast slabs is described, and its capabilities are explored. Hammers for preliminary deformation of large continuous-cast slabs are considered. Experimental data are presented for the deformation of continuous-cast steel 45 and 12Kh18N10T steel billet. The structure of the continuous-cast billet is assessed in the course of reduction on the cyclic-deformation system. The basic parameters of the system for preliminary deformation of large continuous- cast slabs are determined. The capabilities of the cyclic-deformation system are outlined in terms of increase in sheet quality. On that basis, the use of the cyclic-deformation system in the continuous-casting line for preliminary reduction of large continuous-cast slabs is recommended: it permits matching of the speed of continuous-casting and cyclic-deformation processes; and ensures 45–90% reduction in a single pass so as to obtain well-worked cast structure over the whole slab cross section. When using the cyclic-deformation system in the continuous-casting line, the continuous-cast slabs are reduced by means of the heat of the cast metal, thereby greatly reducing the energy consumption in billet production. The cyclic-deformation system may be used with thick-sheet and broad-strip mills for preliminary single-pass reduction of the hot slab, with improvement in sheet quality and reduction in the number of passes in the mills.