Structural features of continuously cast 26KhGMFA steel billets and the effect of electromagnetic stirring on solidification
摘要
Electromagnetic stirring (EMS) is widely used to control the solidification of continuously cast billets (CCBs). By promoting melt flow, it enhances heat and mass transfer under transient thermal conditions and can suppress radial macrosegregation by altering the transport of solute-enriched liquid and non-metallic inclusions (NMIs) toward the CCB centerline. Microsegregation is often underappreciated, although its development drives structural banding and degrades the mechanical and service properties of finished products. We compare the cast-metal structure of 26KhGMFA steel billets produced with and without EMS. Based on measurements of cast-structure parameters (e.g., dendrite metrics), the distribution of NMIs, and the microsegregation of elements, we quantify the effect of EMS applied in the primary cooling zone on the solidification of the CCB and the evolution of structural and microsegregation heterogeneity.