Optimization of Mold Slag for Continuous Casting of Peritectic Steel

Abstract

To reduce the occurrence of stickers and longitudinal cracks during continuous casting (CC) of peritectic steel, herein, the use of a mold slag with high basicity and adequate lubrication is proposed. Laboratory results indicate that the mold slag with a basicity of 1.75 and 2.3 wt% Li2O content exhibits a lower break and melting temperatures and relatively fast crystallization rate. The proposed mold slag can rapidly induce crystallization to control the heat flux, and the residual flux after crystallization and formation of the solid slag still exhibits excellent lubrication on the initial shell. Thus, coordination control of heat transfer and lubrication during CC of peritectic steel can be achieved. Industrial trials obtain satisfactory results, the application of the designed mold slag reduces the occurrence of stickers, and longitudinal cracks are reduced at the initial stage of one sequence casting.