The Quality of Stainless Steel Slab Produced by Pressure Casting

Abstract

The salient features of the pressure casting are a precisely controlled rate ofpouring and a smooth surface of the mold coated with fine alumina powders. Under a suitable operation, the pressure casting process provides a excellent slab surface free from tears and blow holes. Since argon gas purges the mold atmosphere from oxygen, reoxidation of steel is completely prevented duringcasting. The oxygen content of a pressure cast slab is lower than that of a conventional ingot of the same heat, and most oxide inclusions found in the slab are the primary deoxidation products. Aluminacoatings retard effectively the initial rate of solidification, and the amount of inclusions entrapped in the vicinity of the surface is reduced drastically compared with that of a conventional ingot.