Control of initial solidification in contiuous casting by use of electromagnetisc shaping effect

T. Toh¹ - E. Takeuchi¹ - J. Sakane¹ - M. Hojo¹ - H. Takeuchi¹ - H. Kawai² - Sh. Matsumura²

¹ Technology Development Bureau, Nippon Steel Corp., Japan
² Hikari Works, Nippon Steel Corp., Japan

Abstract
The innovative improvement of surface quality of casts and the break through of casting speed in conventional continuous casting of steel demand the introduction of new technology of initial solidification control. The authors intended to improve these problems by use of electromagnetic shaping of meniscus. This paper describes the experimental results obtained by the continuous casting of round stainless steel billet with solenoidal magnetic field of main frequency and numerical results concerned with MHD and heat transfer. With magnetic field, surface roughness and sub-surface structure of cast billet were improved remarkably. Analyses showed principal role of meniscus shaping effect compared with other factors such as Joule heating effect. Table 1, Figs 11, Refs 9.