The use of barium and calcium alloys in the ladle furnace treatment of selected grades of continuously cast steels

Abstract

The subject of the paper are the results of laboratory and industrial investigations into the use of Si - Ca - Ba alloys for modifying non-metallic inclusions. Based on laboratory tests, the morphology and chemical composition of non-metallic inclusions in carbon steel were examined before and after refining with the use of the above-mentioned alloy as a refining addition. In particular tests, variable additions of the alloy were used at a constant refining time and temperature. Comparison of the process of casting of a sequence of seven heats of the same steel grade using the stopper system in the tundish was made under industrial conditions. In these heats, additions of Si - Ca (three heats) and Si - Ca - Ba (four heats) were introduced as a non-metallic inclusion modifier in the form of core wires during the process in the ladle furnace. For the investigated heats, the contents of total oxygen and calcium were assayed in the finished steel. A significant effect of the simultaneous addition of barium and calcium on steel castability, and thus on the process of continuous casting of the investigated heats, was found.