Effects of ultrasonic treatment during the solidification process on the structure formation of low carbon steel

Abstract

This paper studied effects of ultrasonic treatment during the solidification process on structure formation of low carbon steel. Results showed that with ultrasonic treatment grains were refined and the steel ingot avoided the cast widmanstatten structure. When ultrasonic treatment was employed, pearlite was broken and the average length of pearlite was decreased from 550 μm to 140 μm. The corresponding aspect ratio was reduced from 12 to 1. At high magnification the treated pearlite was cloud-like, rather than plate-like, as normal. Ultrasonic treatment also can remove the gas from low carbon steel. These phenomena of low carbon steel generated by ultrasonic treatment were explained. © 2011 The Japan Institute of Metals.