SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1989
STP24569S

Production of Super Clean Steels—Deoxidation Mechanism During Ladle Refining

Source

Investigations carried out by several institutions under Projects RP559, RP2060, RP1403, RP2741 for the Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, resulted in a 3.5% NiCrMoV steel completely free from temper embrittlement as a material for low pressure rotors but also for combination proberty rotors, for example, integral high-pressure low-pressure (HILP) rotors for future steam plants. This steel contains very low percentages of residual elements including sulfur and phosphorus, and its contents of aluminum, silicon, and manganese are also very low.

The main problem in producing such a steel on an industrial scale is gaining a sufficiently low oxygen content as a precondition for successful desulfurization and high cleanliness. This situation is only possible by applying ladle refining techniques. Two model rotors of this “super clean steel” were produced and tested. The tests proved complete resistance to temper embrittlement.

As an approach for further process development and for the economic production of “super clean steels,” the mechanism governing the deoxidation was investigated in detail by means of trial heats. The influences of the composition of process slags and the influence of the ladle linings were examined. The deoxidation was found mainly to be based on steel-slag reactions. The minimum oxygen content achievable in the steel is limited by interactions between ladle linings and melt, which create a dissociation of the linings and an oxygen supply to the liquid steel.

Author Information

Meyer, W
Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke AG, Kapfenberg, Austria
Kucharz, A
Melting Shop, Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke AG, Kapfenberg, Austria
Hochörtler, G
Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke AG, Kapfenberg, Austria
Price: $25.00
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Details
Developed by Committee: A01
Pages: 38–47
DOI: 10.1520/STP24569S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5097-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1259-9