Characteristics of SEN clogging and adhesive behavior of oxide inclusion during continuous casting of Ti-stabilized ultra-pure ferritic stainless steels

Submerged entry nozzle(SEN)clogging during continuous casting of Ti-stabilized ultra-pure ferritic stainless(Ti-UPFS)steels was systematically investigated via cross-sectional analysis and acid dissolution treatment.The SEN deposit profile was characterized as occurring in three major layers:(1)an eroded refractory layer;(2)an initial adhesive layer comprised an Al_(2)O_(3)-ZrO_(2) composite sub-layer and a dense Al_(2)O_(3)-based deposit sub-layer;and(3)a porous multiphase deposit layer mainly consisting of MgO·Al_(2)O_(3),CaO-Al_(2)O_(3),and CaO-TiOx.The MgO·Al_(2)O_(3)-rich inclusions did not adhere directly to the eroded refractory but were entrapped during the deposit growth.Results of inclusion characterization in the tundish revealed that the MgO·Al2O3-rich particles present in the tundish served as the primary source of clogging deposits.Furthermore,a novel cavity-induced adhesion model by circular approximation was established to explain the effects of complex inclusion characteristics and refractory material type on adhesion force.A high number of small MgO·Al_(2)O_(3) inclusions were expected to accelerate the buildup of clogging deposits.Improving the modification of MgO·Al_(2)O_(3)-rich inclusions in the size range of 2-4μm by Ca treatment was crucial to minimizing the risk of SEN clogging during the continuous casting of Ti-UPFS steels.