Elimination of slag entrapment and cold drops in continuous casting steel billets

Abstract

During the year 2000, billets of several steel grades produced in the billet caster of Sidetur Casima Works, Venezuela, presented a defect classified a priori as slag entrapment. Due to this fact, a study was carried out in order to define the root cause for the problem to solve it. In this paper the metallographic study of the defects in the billets is presented, revealing that the defect was not only pure slag entrapment, but that it was associated with cold drops and porosity. Different etchants were used for microscopical observation, SEM analysis was also performed. The mechanism for scum formation and entrapment is discussed, based on the literature and on a thermodynamic model of the Fe-Si-Mn-O system. A mechanism for formation and entrapment of cold drops is suggested, based on the findings of the metallographic study. The actions taken in the plant to cope with the problem are summarized. The results in terms of billet rejection before and after the actions had been taken are detailed. The analysis consisted in a metallographic study of billet samples. According to results, the defects consisted in a mixture of cold drops, scum and porosity. Scum formation is normal for this steel grades, and entrapment depends on Mn to Si ratio and steel temperature. Cold drops and porosity could be originated by oil reaction.