Papers by Keyword: Thin Slab Casting

Abstract: In order to evaluate the feasibility of 9SiCr alloy tool steel produced by thin slab casting, the high temperature mechanical properties of 9SiCr alloy tool steel were investigated by Gleeb-1500 thermal simulator. The morphologies of the tensile fracture at different temperatures were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), together with analysis of fracture mechanisms in different regions. The results showed that there were two brittle zones in the temperature range from 600 °C to 1200 °C. A melting fracture was characterized in the high temperature brittle zone of above 1170 °C, whereas a typical cleavage fracture was exhibited in the low temperature brittle zone from 820 °C to 600 °C, Meanwhile, a good hot ductility behavior characterized by typical dimple fracture was demonstrate at the temperature range from 1170 °C to 820 °C.Thus, the 9SiCr alloy tool steel with the final gauge of 1.5mm was produced by CSP, based on the optimal process parameters.

Abstract: The use of CSP^® thin slab casting followed by direct thermomechanical rolling is well placed for the production of low-carbon Nb microalloyed steels. In this process thin slabs of between 48 and 90 mm thickness are cast and directly hot rolled to hot strip typically between 1 and 12 mm thick. To obtain optimum strength and toughness property combinations in a direct rolling process, hot rolling has to compact the dendritic as-cast microstructure and to achieve a fine-grained microstructure. This affords a two-stage rolling strategy with start rolling above the recrystallization stop temperature and finish rolling in the non-recrystallization temperature range. Temperature and deformation in the first stand should be as high as possible in order to delete the initial as-cast microstructure by complete recrystallization. Based on these considerations, SMS Siemag further developed the CSP^® concept including features allowing isothermal rolling in the first stands of the finishing mill. The present contribution gives the results of a laboratory study of this innovative approach. The report concludes with resulting new plant configurations for improved high strength and API linepipe grade production.

Abstract: Industrial thin slab casting and direct rolling processing started in 1989 with the world’s first CSP® plant at Crawfordsville (USA). Since this time CSP® and competing thin slab casting and direct rolling concepts have been developed to a standard process for hot strip production [1]. Typical features of the CSP® process are the homogeneous structural and mechanical properties all along the strip. Direct hot rolling of thin slabs may be followed by a well defined cooling pattern to produce hot strip from high strength multiphase steel, like dualphase (DP) grades, on the runout table. These steel grades are characterized by a favorable combination of strength and ductility based on hard martensitic particles embedded in a ductile ferritic matrix. This paper highlights the mechanical properties of hot rolled DP steel from CSP® production. To this purpose, multiple tests and modeling have been applied to determine e.g. r-values, forming limit curves and yield locus. In addition, forming simulation as well as laboratory and industrial deep drawing tests have been performed.

Abstract: The simulation studies were carried out on the oriented silicon steel produced by thin slab casting and rolling (TSCR) and twin-roll strip casting in the laboratory. The precipitation of inhibiter, formation of microstructure and texture were investigated before cold rolling. The inhomogeneous microstructure and texture gradient were observed in the 7-pass hot-rolled strip（2mm）for TSCR process, and texture gradient was not changed after normalizing, and the twin-roll strip casting directly supplied a strip with approx 2mm of thickness being same as that of hot-rolled strip by TSCR. The microstructure of twin-rolling casting strip was almost composed of all equiaxed grains which similar to the normalizing microstructure in TSCR process, but the random texture was obtained by twin-rolling strip casting. The dispersed and clustered precipitates were presented in hot-rolled strip when the ingots were soaked at 1200°C and 1150°C respectively for the TSCR process. And disperse and acicular precipitates were observed by TEM for air-cooling cast strips for process twin-rolling casting.

Abstract: The microstructure and textures of oriented silicon steel produced by Thin Slab Casting and Rolling (TSCR) were studied in laboratory. The fractions of equiaxed grains and columnar grains are close to 35% and 65% respectively in as-quenched ingot after being pulled out from the mould. The equiaxed grains and no texture gradient from surface to center can be observed for the 3-pass hot-rolled strips, and the inhomogeneities of microstructure and texture in thickness are relatively clear for the 7-pass samples. The subsurface texture of the hot-rolled sample contains of e (TD// <110>) fibers. The texture of the cold-rolled samples mainly consists of a (<110>//RD) and g (<111>//ND) fibers, and Goss texture ({110}<001>) disappears. The strong a fiber, weak g fiber and minor {001}<110>can be found in all layers in the cold-rolled condition.

Abstract: Mg-containing bronzes have received little attention in general technological applications due to their relatively complex processing conditions. However, Mg is one of the few metallic elements which may exhibit good tribological compatibility with iron and steel and as such is a possible candidate to replace lead in sliding bearing materials. This work describes the casting of such alloys in the form of thin ingots to produce cold rolled strip, as is done for commercial Al-Sn-based ductile triboalloys. Sound ingots could be produced with simple laboratory equipment, yielding slabs in the compositional range of Cu1Mg1Sn, Cu1Mg5Sn, Cu5Mg1Sn and Cu5Mg5Sn. Cooling curves were monitored by embedded thermocouples. Invariant points could be identified after appropriate filtering of the signal but did not correspond to the ternary equilibrium. Segregation and non-equilibrium phases were confirmed by metallography.

Abstract: Lubrication in CC moulds controls the shear forces to the sensible strand surface. Since that friction forces are depending on casting speed and the flux behaviour, a study on lubrication have experimentally been carried out when the slag is in contact with liquid steel. Particularly, higher amounts of aluminium in the steel as for pure de-oxidation lead to remarkable redox-reactions and to modified casting slags for the gap between strand and mould. Friction coefficients have been determined and applied to several strand shapes and castings velocities.

Abstract: Industrial thin slab casting and direct rolling processing started in 1989 with the world’s first CSP® plant at Crawfordsville (USA). Since this time CSP® and competing thin slab casting and direct rolling concepts have been developed to a standard process for hot strip production. Typical features of the CSP® process are the homogeneous structural and mechanical properties all along the strip. Direct hot rolling of thin slabs may be followed by a well defined cooling pattern to produce fine-grained HSLA steel or multiphase hot strip on the runout table. The product range covers low carbon as well as medium and high carbon steel grades comprising IF-, HSLA-, API-, electrical- and multiphase steel grades. CSP® processed thin hot strip is used for non-exposed parts and may substitute cold rolled strip. Hot strip from thin slab can be easily further processed to cold rolled and/or surface treated strip. Today process and material developments e.g. go for energy saving, rise in productivity, advanced surface requirements, HSLA and multiphase steel grades combining higher strength and ductility as well as multiphase steel grades for hot dip galvanizing.

Abstract: The CSP thin-slab technology (Compact Strip Production) provides a highly developed technical process for hot strip grades at low production costs. CSP combines the process stages of casting and rolling, which are discontinuous in the conventional process. This allows advantages to be achieved in terms of investments, energy consumption and operating costs. This paper describes the development work in progress, using the example of API steel grades. Key aspects of hot strip production such as alloying strategy, casting conditions, pass schedule design and the course of cooling are discussed and the resulting range of material properties is outlined. It can be demonstrated that CSP-produced hot strips feature very good toughness at low temperatures and may even allow applications which call for sour gas resistance.

Abstract: The effects of Nb and V on the anisotropy and textures featuring the hot rolled low carbon microalloyed steels produced by A.S.T. (Arvedi Steel Technology) have been studied as a function of the final coiling temperatute Tcoiling. Mechanical properties and r-values for twelve steels have been determined through tensile tests performed on three main different directions: 0°, 45°, 90° to the rolling one. The samples have been analysed by EBSD (Electron Back Scattering Diffraction) to identify the textures developed during the process. The relations among the chemical composition of the steels (i.e. C, N, Nb, V contents), the mechanical properties, the temperature during the coiling operations, the textures and the formability properties have been pointed out.