Production of hot-rolled sheet of specified quality by a new slab-casting technology

Abstract

New methods of producing continuous-cast slab cannot be based on equilibrium crystallization of the steel at low speed. If melt is supplied to the wall layers in the mold through a pressurized submerged nozzle with eccentric outputs, the solidification rate of the steel in casting may be significantly increased. The results show that the new technology ensures improved quality in casting slabs of large cross section. When using the experimental nozzle, the width of the columnar-crystal zone is reduced and the disoriented-crystal zone is enlarged, while less axial segregation is observed. In casting by the new technology, heat transfer in the mold is increased by 10–12%. Impact tests reveal characteristics of the metal that are not evident in other tests. Structure formation of the metal in the continuous finishing group of a continuous broad-strip mill and subsequent strip cooling are studied by physical modeling. Tapered low-carbon steel samples taken from slab cooled on the intermediate roller conveyer of the broad-strip mill are rolled in one and two passes on a tworoller high-speed laboratory mill with a bypass unit. The rolling processes are geometrically and kinematically similar. After a fixed holding time in air, the rolled samples are set on one edge by means of a special device for partial quenching in coolant solution. Gradations of reduction are produced over the length of the sample, and gradations of cooling rate are produced over the width. The results of physical modeling illustrate the structure formation in low-carbon steel on rolling and accelerated strip cooling on a continuous broad-strip mill. Using these results and the Hall–Petch equation, specified structure and yield point of the final hotrolled sheet may be ensured. By eliminating the additional slab heating before rolling and improving the product quality, considerable economic benefit may be ensured.