Analysis of Crystallization Behavior of Mold Fluxes Containing TiO_2 Using Single Hot Thermocouple Technique

The crystallization behavior of mold fluxes containing 0-8 mass% TiO2 was investigated using the single hot therrnocouple technique （SHTT） and X ray diffraction （XRD） to study the possible effects on the coordination of heat transfer control and strand lubrication for casting crack sensitive peritectic steels. Time-temperature-transforma tion （TTT） and continuous-cooling transformation （CCT） curves were plotted using the data obtained from SHTT to characterize the crystallization of the mold fluxes. The results showed that crystallization of the mold fluxes during isothermal and non-isothermal processes was suppressed with TiO2 addition. From the TTT curves, it could be seen that the incubation and growth time of crystallization increased significantly with TiO2 addition. The CCT curves showed that the crystallization temperature initially decreased, and then suddenly increased with increasing the TiO2 content. XRD analysis suggested the presence of cuspidine in the mold fluxes with lower TiO2 content （〈4 mass%） , while both perovskite and cuspidine were detected in the mold fluxes when the TiO2 content was increased to 8 mass%. In addition, the growth mechanisms of the crystals changed during the isothermal crystallization process from interface controlled growth to diffusion-controlled growth with increasing the TiO2 content.

Liquidus and phase equilibria in CaO-SiO2-5%MgO-20%Al2O3-TiO2 system

The single hot thermocouple technique （SHTT） and high temperature equilibrium technique were combined to investigate the phase diagram of the CaO-SiO2-5%MgO-20%AlzO3-TiO2 system. The 1300 ℃ to 1500 ℃ liquidus lines are calculated according to the thermodynamic equations based on the pseudo-melting temperatures measured by the single hot thermocouple technique. The phase equilibria relationships are experimentally determined at 1400 ℃ using the high temperature equilibria technique followed by X-ray fluorescence （XRF）, X-ray diffraction（XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDX） analysis. The liquid phase（L）, melilite solid solution phase （（C2MSz,C2AS）ss）, diopside phase（CMS2） and perovskite phase （CaO·TiO2） are found. Coupled with the liquidus lines and equilibria results, the phase diagram is constructed for the specified region of the CaO-SiO2-5%MgO-20%Al2O3-TiO2 system.

Effect of AI_(2)O_(3)and MgO on crystallization and structure of Ca0-Si0_(2)-B_(2)0_(3)-based fluorine-free mold flux

The crytallization behavior and melt structure of the CaO-Si0^(2-)B20_(3)-based fluorine-free mold fux were investigated.The results show that the crytallization of the mold fux was first inhibited and then promoted with the increase in Al_(2)0_(3) content from 4 to 12 wt.%.However,it was enhanced by MgO in the range of 2-10 wt.%.The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy showed that Al_(2)0_(3) worked as a network former in the mold flux melt when its content was in the range of 4-8 wt.%,whereas it worked as the network breaker to provide 0^(2-)when its content was in the range of 8-12 wt.%.In addition,the combined efects from the charge compensation by Mg^(2+)and the network broken by 0^(2-)led to the increase in some typicalT-O-T(AI-O-A1,B-O-B,etc.,)and simpler structural units(Q^(2)(Si),B_^(O-)in the[B0_(2)0^(-)],.etc.)when the MgO content was in the range of 2-6 wt.%.The continuous increase in 0^(2-)provided by the addition of MgO from 6 to 10 wt.%further depolymerized the network of the melt and fnally caused fast crystallizationo.