Effect of liquid–solid pouring on the as-cast structure and the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions in a 24.2-t steel 38KhN3MFA ingot

Abstract

The primary dendrite structure and the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions in large-scale 24.2-t forging ingots of 38KhN3MFA steel cast by a standard technology and with the inoculation of a metallic stream are studied. The dendrite parameter in the inoculated ingot is found to be significantly smaller than that in the usual ingot. Therefore, the solidification process in the inoculated ingot should be faster than that in the usual ingot. This is confirmed by a more homogeneous dendrite structure of the inoculated ingot. The estimation of contamination with nonmetallic inclusions shows that nonmetallic inclusions in the ingots under comparison are of the same type, and among them are oxides, sulfides and oxysulfides. The study of the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions shows that the ingots to be compared are mainly contaminated with oxysulfide nonmetallic inclusions, and the contents of oxide and sulfide nonmetallic inclusions are minimal. The experimental ingot has lower total contamination with nonmetallic inclusions than that of the reference ingot. In this case, the inoculators having formed from a metallic melt stream do not favor an increase in the contamination of steel with nonmetallic (among them are oxide) inclusions. The study of the structure of large metal volumes shows that the inoculation of the stream is accompanied by an increase in the number of metallic droplets, which transform into solid particles in flight and increase the solidification rate when reach a solidifying ingot. This process suppresses the development of segregation phenomena in the cast metal and decreases the chemical and physical heterogeneities.