Minimisation of calcium additions to low carbon steel grades

This investigation aimed to determine the in plant feasibility of decreasing, to an amount close to the minimum literature value, the calcium addition to liquid steel for prevention of alumina buildup during continuous casting. Six plant trials were carried out at calcium additions of 0.14 kg/t of steel (reduced from the original 0.19 kg/t), added to the second ladle of a two or three ladle sequence. Total oxygen samples were taken at the ladle furnace and tundish to determine total oxygen and nitrogen contents of the steel. The total oxygen content at the ladle furnace varied between 19 and 26 ppm, with a slight degree of reoxidation between the ladle furnace and the easter. Alumina clogging was successfully prevented by the addition of 0.14 kg calcium/t of steel during the first five trials. During the sixth trial the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) failed and, although the stopper behaved as if clogging occurred, this behaviour was caused by the poor perfomance of the SEN rather than actual clogging. Microanalysis of inclusions in steel samples revealed a distribution in degrees of modification between different inclusions, and the formation of a substantial amount of CaS (which is taken to indicate overmodification, based on equilibrium calculations). However, the CaS is mostly associated with at least partly liquefied oxide inclusions, which is likely to reduce the potential clogging effect of solid CaS. (C) 2000 IoM Communications Ltd.