The Influence of Carbonaceous Material on the Melting Behaviour of Mould Powder

The melting behaviour of mould powder during continuous casting is an important consideration with respect to caster performance, production rate and steel quality. In this experimental study the effect of different carbonaceous materials on the melting characteristics of mould powders was evaluated. Using X-ray diffraction, different types of carbon were quantitatively characterized in terms of their internal structure and reactivity experiments were conducted to investigate potential relationships between the structural morphology of carbons and their reactivity. High temperature microscopy and drip test experiments were then used to investigate the melting behaviour of mould powders containing different carbonaceous materials. From the results obtained, correlations were established between the structural factors, chemical reactivity and melting behaviour.