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Q2) what is Metallurgical Length and what are factors affecting it?
Metallurgical length is the length from mould to the position where molten metal in the cast
solidifies completely.
Factors affecting metallurgical length:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
Cooling Intensity
Composition
Casting speed: Linear rate of extraction of Solidified product
Superheat:
ii)
iii)
Degassing is employed to remove nitrogen and hydrogen from steel. Excess nitrogen causes
embrittlement of heat affected zone of welded steels and impair cold formability. Hydrogen
in steel impairs steel properties
What are the methods for Degassing?
i)
ii)
iii)
Ladle degassing
Stream degassing
Circulation degassing
I.
II.
III.
Argon creates aerated steel which decreases the density of steel upto 5g/cm^3 . This
density difference helps in the circulation of steel. Molten steel in the chamber is
degassed and flows back through the other snorkel into the ladle.
IV.
Rate of circulation of molten steel in cylindrical chamber controls the degassing. Circulation
rate depends upon amount of lifter gas and the degree of vacuum
V.
Alloy additions can be made at the end of degassing depending on the superheat.
Advantages:
i. Heat losses are relatively low.
ii. Small vacuum pumping capacity is adequate since smaller volume is to be evacuated as
compared with ladle to ladle or stream degassing.
iii.
Top side of the cylindrical shell is provided with exhaust, alloy additions, observation and control
window. Cylindrical shell is lined with fire bricks in the upper portion, and alumina bricks in the lower
portion in order to sustain high temperature.
DH degassing
The arrangement of DH degasser is similar to RH degasser with following modification:
i. In DH unit, the cylindrical vessel has one snorkel
ii. Cylindrical vessel has heating facility.
Operation of DH degasser
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
DH vessel is preheated and lowered in the ladle so that snorkel tip dips below the molten
steel surface
The evacuated chamber is moved up and down so that steel enters the chamber
The chamber is moved for 50-60 times with a cycle time of 20 seconds.
Adequate degassing is possible in 20 -30 cycles.
A layer of slag is kept in the ladle to minimize heat losses.
vi.
The DH degassing unit can operate with lower superheats compared with RH since DH unit
has heating facility
Stream Degassing
Produces stainless steel by melting scrap of the desired composition. Charge consists of
carbon steel scrap + stainless steel scrap +lime. The charge is melted in EAF and after meltdown period, the melt contains around 10% Cr, all Nickel and carbon. Melt consists of Fe- Cr
Ni C alloy
Oxygen is blown onto Fe- Cr- Ni C melt and basic Cr2 O3 slag forms. Initially chromium
oxidizes until bath temperature rises to 1800. Carbon oxidation occurs once the bath
temperature rises to 1800 .
In the finishing stage, low carbon ferrochrome is added to make the chromium content of
steel to a desired value.
Disadvantages
Electric arc furnaces are of two type (a) alternating current and (b) direct current.
In alternating current, furnace operates by means of electric current flowing from one electrode of
three to another through the metallic charge
In direct current, the current flows from carbon electrode, which acts as cathode, to an anode
embedded in the bottom of the furnace.
Charging Materials
Steel scrap is the principle raw material. It may constitute 60 to 80% of the charge. In basic furnaces
slag formers like limestone, fluorspar, sand, and quartzite are used to form a slag to refine the
metal.For decarburization oxygen lancing is used. Iron ore is also added. Ferro-manganese,
ferrosilicon or aluminium are used for deoxidation.