Isothermal and Non-isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Mold Fluxes used in Continuous Casting of Steel: A Review

Abstract Casting powders or mold fluxes, as they are more commonly known, used in the continuous casting of steel to prevent shell from sticking copper mold. The first melt and create a pool liquid flux above mold, then fluxes penetrate into gap between water-cooled shell, where crystallization solid phases takes place temperatures gradually drop. It is important understand behavior these because crystalline phase fraction slag films plays crucial role determining horizontal heat during process. In this work, existing literature on kinetics conventional fluoride-free has been reviewed. review divided two main sections viz. isothermal non-isothermal kinetics. Under each sections, three most widely techniques for studying have included thermoanalytical such differential scanning calorimetry/differential thermal analysis (DSC/DTA), single double hot thermocouple technique (SHTT DHTT), confocal laser microscopy (CSLM). For techniques, available related summarized thereby encompassing wide range investigations comprising both fluxes. Summaries after section with critical comments insights by authors. Finally, relative merits demerits methods vis-à-vis their application discussed.