Identification of Cracking Issues and Process Improvements through Plant Monitoring and Numerical Modelling of Secondary Cooling during Continuous Casting of HSLA Steels

A holistic approach to diagnose the occurrence of cracking on HSLA steel slabs and propose countermeasures prevent them is presented. The consisted plant monitoring, including direct temperature measurements in strand with pyrometers. Extensive characterization was performed via thermo-mechanical tests microscopy techniques which revealed combination Widmanstätten ferrite, acicular ferrite secondary phases that promote embrittlement during casting a minimum ductility between 700°C–800°C (± 50°C) responsible for this steel. Finally, 1D 3D numerical models were developed test possible cooling strategies proved reductions water flowrate can have positive effect slab quality by avoiding low zone. Corrective actions included decreasing increase overall before straightener temperature. Yet, some still observed presence cracks points at factors such as high tundish temperatures >1530°C producing cracking. Other include strong variations up ± 250°C would send corners into range despite having hot centre. Although these optimization are particular each caster grade, similar could be applied address issues continuous casting. presented an ideal toolkit analyse influence product size operation parameters monitoring extensive microstructure improve productivity process.