Controlling the Thermal and Rheological Properties of Silicate Glasses for Development of Advanced Mold Flux Systems

Abstract

Development of the advanced mold flux is always mandatory to enhance both the quality and productivity of continuous casting of steels. Especially, the increasing demands for high alloy steels production and high speed casting reveals serious contradiction between two principal functions of mold flux: lubrication and controlling heat transfer. In order to overcome this problematic needs, some innovative research activities are being carried out. MAE (Mixed Alkali Effect) has been examined in alumino-borosilicate-based mold system to stabilize alkali cation and aluminum association, which enables chemically stable glassy mold flux film during casting of high alloy steels. Non-Newtonian mold fluxes could be developed by addition of Si3N4 or SiC due to the increase of stiffness of polymeric structure, which would be beneficial to satisfy the contradictory requirements of viscosity at mold top surface and mold wall. Some innovative ideas for controlling mold heat transfer without deteriorating the lubrication have been examined by dispersion of nano-size metallic particles and by modification of prenucleation motif. All these trials are closely related with glass science and engineering. Therefore, it should be highly beneficial to enhance the collaborative research activities between glass and metallurgy society for further development of advanced functional mold flux systems.