Investigations of the solidification structure of continuously cast slabs

A study of solidification phenomena performed under industrial conditions is presented. The solidification structure of high carbon, medium carbon and microalloyed steel grades was observed and correlated to casting parameters such as superheat and secondary cooling. Experimental data of dendrite morphology are related to calculated solidification variables. The calculation is based on the solution of the enthalpy balance equation. An expression for the dependence of secondary dendrite arm spacing on solidification variables is proposed for columnar growth. The results are compared to the findings of other authors. The effect of chemical composition on secondary dendrite arm spacing was observed. Therefore the developed relationships are extended to carbon content on the basis of the presented experimental data.