Special Steel Continuous Casting vs Common Steel Continuous Casting
Continuous casting is a manufacturing process used primarily in the production of steel. It is primarily used to cast high grade steels, such as stainless steels, engineering alloys, and exotic superalloys. Continuous casting involves the direct pouring of molten metal into a continuously moving form or mould, followed by solidification and forging.
Common steel continuous casting involves the direct pouring of molten iron, or other lower grade steels, into a continuously moving mould or form. The molten iron is then allowed to solidify in order to create a malleable steel product. The molten iron is constantly agitated and vigorously stirred during the process, using coil side stirring to guarantee optimal homogeneity and enable better solidification rates. Solidifying the steel in its liquid form allows for a higher yield and better workability than other steel production methods, such as forging or rolling.
Special steel continuous casting involves the direct pouring of higher grade steel, such as stainless steel, engineering alloys, and exotic superalloys into a continuously moving mould or form. The molten steel is then allowed to solidify to create a malleable steel product. The molten steel is constantly agitated and vigorously stirred during the process, using either bottom stirring or coil side stirring to guarantee optimal homogeneity and enable better solidification rates. In addition to the agitation, the special steel is raised to higher temperatures during the process via heating coils. This allows for optimal ductility of the steel in its solid form.
The major difference between common steel continuous casting and special steel continuous casting is the presence of heat treatments during the process. Special steel requires higher temperatures in order to increase its malleability and ductility, compared with lower grade steel. Special steel is also more susceptible to oxidation and more tedious to produce than common steel. Oxidation during the continuous casting process can affect the quality of the steel product, resulting in a weaker structure.
To ensure the quality of special steel continuous casting products, different types of protective coatings are used. These coatings help reduce oxidation and provide additional protection to the steel product. In addition, special steel continuous casting processes also require precise measures in terms of timing and temperature to guarantee optimal results.
In summary, the major difference between common steel and special steel continuous casting is the presence of heat treatments during the process. Special steel requires higher temperatures and additional protective coatings during production to ensure higher quality and to reduce oxidation. In addition, the process of special steel continuous casting requires more precise measures and more elaborate processes than common steel continuous casting.
