Refining of Solidification Structures of Type 430 Stainless Steel by Vibration Method

Abstract

Refining of the solidification structures of Type 430 stainless steel by the mechanical vibration and the liquid surface vibration was tried. The structures of 15 kg test ingots were remarkable improved by these vibration methods. Change of structure into the equiaxed one starts after the superheat of liquid steel disappears.
The liquid surface vibration was applied to 6t ingots for practical use and its effect on structure refining was confirmed. By the investigation of size of crystals and negative segregation in the equiaxed zone, it was concluded that the structure refining was caused by the showering of the free crystals.
In the case of continuously cast slabs, the liquid surface vibration was effective only under low superheat.