Industrial test of a 6-m long bearing steel ingot by electroslag remelting withdrawing process

In this study, the key technologies of a 6-m long bearing steel ingot produced by electroslag remelting withdrawing (ESRW) process, including bifilar mode supply, slag system development, and design of mold, were studied based on the laboratory research achievements. The 6-m long ingot of bearing steel GGr15 with a cross-section of 300 mm x 340 mm was produced using the ESRW process with a bifilar mode and a multi-taper T-mold in a plant. The testing results show that the melting rate using the ESRW bifilar mode technology is three times faster than traditional electroslag remelting (ESR), and the power consumption is only 1,320 kWh per ton steel. Through testing for the chemical composition, macrostructure and inclusions of remelted ingot, it can be concluded that the ESRW bifilar mode technology not only retains the characteristics of traditional ESR, but also improves the production efficiency and reduces the cost compared to traditional ESR.