Laboratory Evaluation of Tundish Covering Powders and Rice Hull Ash on Cleanliness for a SAE 1055 Modified Steel

Abstract

The continuous casting tundish is the last metallurgical reactor where molten metal flows before solidifying in the continuous casting mold. A tundish covering powder can be used for improving steel cleanliness; in this case it is named ‘active tundish slag’. The objective of this work is to evaluate, in laboratory, the effect of three kinds of tundish covering powders on cleanliness for a SAE 1055 modified steel - a Ca-aluminate, a Ca-Mg-aluminate, and an Al-silicate powder, analysing their interaction with rice hull ash. The forementioned materials were molten on liquid steel, representing different kinds of tundish covering powders which are used in the steel industry: a Ca-Mg-aluminate, an Al-silicate, and a Ca-aluminate. Experiments were performed with and without a top layer of rice hull ash, simulating industrial conditions. Distribution, density, and mean diameter of inclusions were measured through automated inclusion analyses. Through computational thermodynamics it was possible to evaluate deviation from saturation (considering Al₂O₃ and MgO from refractory) and slag viscosity. It can be stated that the Ca-aluminate tundish covering powder gives better results regarding cleanliness for the SAE 1055 modified steel under laboratory conditions.

Keywords:
tundish covering materials; tundish slag; non-metallic inclusions; automated inclusion analysis; computational thermodynamics