Water modeling on slag entrainment in the slab continuous casting mold

Abstract

A water model is built to investigate the transport phenomena in the slab continuous casting mold. The gas flow rate, casting speed, and slab width on the slag entrainment are studied. The sliver defect in the IF steel plate is analyzed by the scanning electron microscope. The slag entrainment is recorded by the high-speed camera and the velocity is measured by the PIV. The results show that sliver defects contain Al, Ca, Si, Mg, Na, and O, which are mainly derived from the mold slag entrainment. With the casting speed increase, the fluid velocity from the submerged entry nozzle rises clearly and the slag droplets detach from slag layer. As the gas flow rate increases, the liquid moves upward with bubble floating and attacks the slag-steel interface. It is suggested the gas flow rate should be less than 3.3 NL/min for the slab width of 1300 mm and the casting speed of 1.2 m/min. With the slab width increasing from 1300 mm to 1700 mm, no slag entrainment zone is reduced. The gas flow rate should be below 2.2 NL/min with the casting speed increasing to 1.4 m/min, both for the slab width of 1300 mm and 1700 mm.