Original Article

Mechanism and control of uneven cooling on the surface crack defects in multi-mode continuous casting-rolling line

¹ Research Institute of Technology, Shougang Group Co., Ltd., Beijing 100043, China
² Steel Rolling Department, Shougang Jingtang United Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., Tangshan 063200, Hebei, China
³ Manufacturing Department, Shougang Jingtang United Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., Tangshan 063200, Hebei, China

^* e-mail: luoyanzhao@hotmail.com

Received: 31 October 2022
Accepted: 13 March 2023

Abstract

When the thin slab caster produces low-carbon steel, the uneven cooling alarm can easily occur at both sides of the nozzle in the thermal image, and there are cracks at the corresponding positions where the uneven cooling occurs. The causes of uneven cooling are studied, and the mechanism of uneven cooling causing surface cracks is proposed. The results show that the generation of uneven cooling is greatly related to the carbon content of molten steel, the thickness of the copper plate, and the hydrogen content. The surface roughness method shows that the uneven cooling index increases with the increase of carbon content. The uneven cooling index gradually increases with the decrease of the copper plate thickness. When the copper plate thickness is less than 41 mm, the uneven cooling index of the mold increases from the 1.1 to about 14.7. With the increase of H content, the uneven cooling index increases. When H exceeds 7 ppm, the uneven cooling index can reach 14.5. By adopting reasonable and effective control measures, the uneven cooling index of the mold is significantly reduced from 3.85 to 0.73, and the surface crack defects in multi-mode continuous casting-rolling line are effectively alleviated.