ON THE FORMATION OF PIPES AND CENTERLINE SEGREGATES IN CONTINUOUSLY CAST BILLETS

Centerline macrosegregation in continuously cast steel billets, blooms, and slabs is a significant problem. Thermal contraction of the solidified shell at the final end of the liquid pool causes a separation in the central portion of the strand and formation of a pore. When this pore fills with liquid, centerline macrosegregation results. Segregation formation is influenced by the cooling and casting conditions. The effects of those parameters are discussed in this article. Thermal contraction also causes formation of a large pipe in the very last portion of the strand. The casting parameters that control the centerline macrosegregation also control the size of the pipe.