Influences of Li2O on the Properties of Ultrahigh-Basicity Mold Fluxes for Continuous Casting of Peritectic Steel

Abstract

The ultrahigh-basicity (R = 1.75) mold flux has been proved to be effective in coordinating heat transfer and lubrication during continuous casting of peritectic steel in industry, Properties of the mold flux may be further improved through the adjustment of the Li2O content in the flux. The effects of Li2O content on the properties of ultrahigh-basicity mold flux were systematically investigated. With the increase of the Li2O content from 0.8 to 2.4%, the viscosity of the ultra-high basicity mold flux at the temperature of 1573 K increased and then decreased, and the maximum viscosity was 0.148 Pa·s at the Li2O content of 2.0%. With the increase of the Li2O content from 0.8 to 2.4%, the break temperature was reduced from 1484 to 1435 K, the initial crystallization temperature, which was measured by an in-house apparatus, could decline by approximately 100 K with 2.4% Li2O addition while the crystallization rate represented an increasing trend except for the case with 2.0% Li2O. This study enhances the understanding of specified mold flux for peritectic steel.