Effect of casting process on the inner-wall band segregation of high-strength antisulfur pipes

Controlling inner-wall band segregation is one of the difficulties in the production of high-strength antisulfur pipes.Comparative tests were carried out on different casting processes(superheat,mold electromagnetic stirring,end electromagnetic stirring,casting speed and soft reduction)for the smelting of high-strength antisulfur pipes.The microstructures of continuous-casting billets and hot-rolled or tempered pipes were analyzed using a metallographic microscope and scanning electron microscope.The mechanism and evolution law regarding the inner-wall band segregation of high-strength antisulfur pipes were studied,and the influence of different casting processes was explored.

Data-driven casting defect prediction model for sand casting based on random forest classification algorithm

The complex sand-casting process combined with the interactions between process parameters makes it difficult to control the casting quality,resulting in a high scrap rate.A strategy based on a data-driven model was proposed to reduce casting defects and improve production efficiency,which includes the random forest(RF)classification model,the feature importance analysis,and the process parameters optimization with Monte Carlo simulation.The collected data includes four types of defects and corresponding process parameters were used to construct the RF model.Classification results show a recall rate above 90% for all categories.The Gini Index was used to assess the importance of the process parameters in the formation of various defects in the RF model.Finally,the classification model was applied to different production conditions for quality prediction.In the case of process parameters optimization for gas porosity defects,this model serves as an experimental process in the Monte Carlo method to estimate a better temperature distribution.The prediction model,when applied to the factory,greatly improved the efficiency of defect detection.Results show that the scrap rate decreased from 10.16% to 6.68%.

Grain refinement of Mg-Al alloys by optimization of process parameters based on three-dimensional finite element modeling of roll casting

To study the influence of roll casting process parameters on temperature and thermal-stress fields for the AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets,three-dimensional geometric and 3D finite element models for roll casting were established based on the symmetry of roll casting by ANSYS software.Meshing method and smart-sizing algorithm were used to divide finite element mesh in ANSYS software.A series of researches on the temperature and stress distributions during solidification process with different process parameters were done by 3D finite element method.The temperatures of both the liquid-solid two-phase zone and liquid phase zone were elevated with increasing pouring temperature.With the heat transfer coefficient increasing,the two-phase region for liquid-solid becomes smaller.With the pouring temperature increasing and the increase of casting speed,the length of two-phase zone rises.The optimized of process parameters（casting speed 2 m/min,pouring temperature 640 ℃ and heat transfer coefficient 15 kW/（m2·℃） with the water pouring at roller exit was used to produce magnesium alloy AZ31 sheet,and equiaxed grains with the average grain size of 50 μm were achieved after roll casting.The simulation results give better understanding of the temperature variation in phase transformation zone and the formation mechanism of hot cracks in plates during roll casting and help to design the optimized process parameters of roll casting for Mg alloy.

Finite element analysis for die casting parameters in high-pressure die casting process

The gating system and the overflow system were designed according to the casting structure during high pressure die casting(HPDC) process. The simulation was carried out by ProCAST software to visualize the injection chamber pre-crystallization and the flow of molten metal. The main work is to research four die casting process parameters, i.e. injection temperature, low-pressure velocity, high-and low-pressure velocity’s switching position, and high-pressure velocity. Experimental results show that the higher injection temperature and lowpressure velocity can mitigate the pre-crystallization of the injection chamber. However, when the low-pressure velocity exceeds 0.2 m·s-1, the air entrapment in the chamber occurs. Besides, when the high-pressure velocity is greater than 2.5 m·s-1, the overflow channel at the final filling position is covered by the liquid metal too early. Finally, the injection temperature of 650 °C, the low-pressure velocity of 0.2 m·s-1, the high-and low-pressure velocity’s switching position of 320 mm and the high-pressure velocity of 2 m·s-1 are obtained as the optimal parameters by the software simulation, which has been verified by actual production.

High Cr white cast iron/carbon steel bimetal liner by lost foam casting with liquid-liquid composite process

Liners in wet ball mill for mineral processing industry must bear abrasive wear and corrosive wear, and consequently, the service life of the liner made from traditional materials, such as Hadfield steel and alloyed steels, is typically less than ten months. Bimetal liner, made from high Cr white cast iron and carbon steel, has been successfully developed by using liquid-liquid composite lost foam casting process. The microstructure and interface of the composite were analyzed using optical microscope, SEM, EDX and XRD. Micrographs indicate that the boundary of bimetal combination regions is staggered like dogtooth, two liquid metals are not mixed, and the interface presents excellent metallurgical bonding state. After heat treatment, the composite liner specimens have shown excellent properties, including hardness 〉 61 HRC, fracture toughness ak 〉16.5 J.cm2 and bending strength 〉1,600 MPa. Wear comparison was made between the bimetal composite liner and alloyed steel liner in an industrial hematite ball mill of WISCO, and the results of eight-month test in wet grinding environment have proved that the service life of the bimetal composite liner is three times as long as that of the alloyed steel liner.

Numerical simulation and processoptimization for producing large-sized castings

3-Dvelocity and temperature fields of mold filling and solidification processes of large-sized castingswere calculated,and the efficiency and accuracy of numerical calculation were studied.The mold filling andsolidification processes of large-sized stainless steel,iron and aluminum alloy castings were simulated by using ofnew scheme;their casting processes were optimized,and then applied to produce castings.

Effects of Heat Treatment on Hardness and Dry Wear Properties of a Semi-Solid Processed Fe-27 wt pct Cr-2.9 wt pct C Cast Iron

EfFects of heat treatments on hardness and dry wear properties of a semi-solid processed Fe-26.96 wt pct Cr- 2.91 wt pct C cast iron were studied. Heat treatments included tempering at 500℃, destabilisation at 1075℃ and destabilisation at 1075℃ plus tempering at 500℃, all followed by air cooling. Electron microscopy revealed that, in the as-cast condition, the primary proeutectic austenite was round in shape while the eutectic M7C3 carbide was found as radiating clusters mixed with directional clusters. Tempering did not change the microstructure significantly when observed by scanning or transmission electron microscopy. Destabilisation followed by air cooling led to a precipitation of secondary M23C6 carbide and a transformation of the primary austenite to martensite. Precipitation behaviour is comparable to that observed in the conventionally cast iron. Tempering after destabilisation resulted in a higher amount of secondary carbide precipitation within the tempered martensite in the eutectic structure. Vickers macrohardness and microhardness in the proeutectic zones were measured. Dry wear properties were tested by using a pin-on-disc method. The maximum hardness and the lowest dry wear rate were obtained from the destabilisation-plus-tempering heat treatment due to the precipitation of secondary carbides within the martensite matrix and a possible reduction in the retained austenite.

Review of Design of Process Parameters for Squeeze Casting

Squeeze casting(SC)is an advanced net manufacturing process with many advantages for which the quality and properties of the manufactured parts depend strongly on the process parameters.Unfortunately,a universal efficient method for the determination of optimal process parameters is still unavailable.In view of the shortcomings and development needs of the current research methods for the setting of SC process parameters,by consulting and analyzing the recent research literature on SC process parameters and using the CiteSpace literature analysis software,manual reading and statistical analysis,the current state and characteristics of the research methods used for the determination of SC process parameters are summarized.The literature data show that the number of pub-lications in the literature related to the design of SC process parameters generally trends upward albeit with signifi-cant fluctuations.Analysis of the research focus shows that both“mechanical properties”and“microstructure”are the two main subjects in the studies of SC process parameters.With regard to materials,aluminum alloys have been extensively studied.Five methods have been used to obtain SC process parameters:Physical experiments,numeri-cal simulation,modeling optimization,formula calculation,and the use of empirical values.Physical experiments are the main research methods.The main methods for designing SC process parameters are divided into three categories:Fully experimental methods,optimization methods that involve modeling based on experimental data,and theoreti-cal calculation methods that involve establishing an analytical formula.The research characteristics and shortcomings of each method were analyzed.Numerical simulations and model-based optimization have become the new required methods.Considering the development needs and data-driven trends of the SC process,suggestions for the develop-ment of SC process parameter research have been proposed.

Modeling and simulation of 3D thermal stresses of large-sized castings in solidification processes

When heavy machines and large scaled receiver system of communication equipment are manufactured, it always needs to produce large-sized steel castings, aluminum castings and etc. Some defects of hot cracking by thermal stress often appear during solidification process as these castings are produced, which results in failure of castings. Therefore predicting the effects of technological parameters for production of castings on the thermal stress during solidification process becomes an important means. In this paper, the mathematical models have been established and numerical calculation of temperature fields by using finite difference method (FDM) and then thermal stress fields by using finite element method (FEM) during solidification process of castings have been carried out. The technological parameters of production have been optimized by the results of calculation and the defects of hot cracking have been eliminated. Modeling and simulation of 3D thermal stress during solidification processes of large-sized castings provided a scientific basis, which promoted further development of advanced manufacturing technique.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ91-Ca magnesium alloy cast by different processes

The microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium （Mg） alloys are significantly influenced by the casting process. In this paper, a comparative study on microstructure and mechanical properties at ambient and elevated temperatures of AZ91-2wt.% Ca （AZX912） Mg alloy samples prepared by gravity casting （GC）, squeeze casting （SC） and rheo-squeeze casting （RSC）, respectively, was carried out. The results show that mMg grains in SC and RSC samples are significantly refined compared to the GC sample. The average secondary dendritic arm spacing of AZX912 alloy samples decreases in the order of GC, SC and RSC. As testing temperature increases from 25 ~C to 200 ~C, strength of AZX912 alloy samples is reduced, while their elongation is increased continuously. Compared to GC and SC processes, RSC process can improve the mechanical properties of AZX912 alloy at both ambient and elevated temperatures. The enhancement of mechanical properties of RSC sample over GC and SC samples mainly results from grain refinement in the as-cast microstructure of AZX912 alloy.

Quantitative evaluation of multi-process collaborative operation in steelmaking–continuous casting sections

The quantitative evaluation of multi-process collaborative operation is of great significance for the improvement of production planning and scheduling in steelmaking–continuous casting sections(SCCSs). However, this evaluation is difficult since it relies on an in-depth understanding of the operating mechanism of SCCSs, and few existing methods can be used to conduct the evaluation, due to the lack of full-scale consideration of the multiple factors related to the production operation. In this study, three quantitative models were developed, and the multiprocess collaborative operation level was evaluated through the laminar-flow operation degree, the process matching degree, and the scheduling strategy availability degree. Based on the evaluation models for the laminar-flow operation and process matching levels, this study investigated the production status of two steelmaking plants, plants A and B, based on actual production data. The average laminar-flow operation(process matching) degrees of SCCSs were obtained as 0.638(0.610) and 1.000(0.759) for plants A and B, respectively, for the period of April to July 2019. Then, a scheduling strategy based on the optimization of the furnace-caster coordinating mode was suggested for plant A. Simulation experiments showed higher availability than the greedy-based and manual strategies. After the proposed scheduling strategy was applied,the average process matching degree of the SCCS of plant A increased by 4.6% for the period of September to November 2019. The multi-process collaborative operation level was improved with fewer adjustments and interruptions in casting.

基于ProCAST的铜合金通海阀铸造工艺优化

目的结合ZCuAl7-7-4-2合金的铸造特性,研究复杂薄壁铸件通海阀的铸造成形工艺,探究初始浇注方案下的充型、凝固规律,优化工艺并提出合理的铸造工艺方案。方法根据通海阀的结构特点,设计出底注雨淋式浇注系统,并利用流体力学理论和截面积比值法确定浇注系统的具体参数,使用ProCAST软件研究不同工艺参数、冒口尺寸对铸件质量的影响,以得到最优的浇注方案。结果在底注雨淋式浇注系统的充型过程中,金属液温度分布均匀、流速平稳,凝固顺序合理,所得铸件缺陷较少,其中疏松缩孔体积为0.63 mm3,且集中分布在阀盖处。优化浇注温度和浇注速度能够有效减少铸造缺陷,优化出的最佳浇注工艺参数组合如下:浇注温度为1180℃,浇注速度为3.5 kg/s。结合该模拟结果改进冒口尺寸后,彻底消除了铸件的铸造缺陷。结论优化工艺参数和浇注系统设计能够有效提高铸件的生产质量,便于铸件的一次成形,对实际生产提供指导。

The EVA plastic film for V-process and steel castings by V-process in China

EVA plastic film is the key material for V-process. Through decades of research, special EVA film for V-process has been produced. The film has adequate elongation; its maximum is about 800% in longitudinal direction and 750% in transversal direction. The single width of the film is 2.8 m and the double width is 5.6 m, which is the widest sheet film for V-process in China. Sheets with different thickness ranging from the thickest 0.35 mm to the thinnest 0.08 mm can meet different demands in China. The film can be used not only for V-process of iron castings, but also for the manganese steel railway frog, steel rocking support and side frame castings for train and the steel bridge box for engine truck.

Construction and analysis of dynamic solidification curves for non-equilibrium solidification process in lost-foam casting hypoeutectic gray cast iron

Most lost-foam casting processes involve non-equilibrium solidification dominated by kinetic factors, while construction of a common dynamic solidification curve is based on pure thermodynamics, not applicable for analyses and research of non-equilibrium macro-solidification processes, and the construction mode can not be applied to nonequilibrium solidification process. In this study, the construction of the dynamic solidification curve(DSC) for the nonequilibrium macro-solidification process included: a modified method to determine the start temperature of primary austenite precipitation(T_(AL)) and the start temperature of eutectic solidification(T_(ES)); double curves method to determine the temperature of the dendrite coherency point of primary austenite(T-(AC)) and the temperature of eutectic cells collision point(T_(EC)); the "technical solidus" method to determine the end temperature of eutectic reaction(T_(EN)). For this purpose, a comparative testing of the non-equilibrium solidification temperature fields in lost-foam casting and green sand mold casting hypoeutectic gray iron was carried out. The thermal analysis results were used to construct the DSCs of both these casting methods under non-equilibrium solidification conditions. The results show that the transformation rate of non-equilibrium solidification in hypoeutectic gray cast iron is greater than that of equilibrium solidification. The eutectic solidification region presents a typical mushy solidification mode. The results also indicate that the primary austenite precipitation zone of lost-foam casting is slightly larger than that of green sand casting. At the same time, the solid fraction(f_s) of the dendrite coherency points in lost-foam casting is greater than that in the green sand casting. Therefore, from these two points, lost-foam casting is more preferable for reduction of shrinkage and mechanical burntin sand tendency of the hypoeutectic gray cast iron. Due to the fact that the solidification process(from the surface to center) at primary austenite growth area in the lost-foam cylinder sample lags behind that in the green sand casting, the mushy solidification tendency of lost-foam casting is greater and the solidification time is longer.

L-茶氨酸口溶膜的制备及其成膜条件的优化

茶氨酸是茶叶中特征性的非蛋白质类氨基酸,具有抗应激、稳定情绪、改善睡眠、增强免疫力和抗炎等多种药理作用。试验旨在制备L-茶氨酸口溶膜,并评价其质量。采用流延法制备L-茶氨酸口溶膜,通过单因素试验法和正交试验法对制备所需的L-茶氨酸含量、羟丙基甲基纤维素含量、甘油含量、烘箱温度和干燥时间进行探索,优化成膜处方成分配比和制备条件。结果显示,L-茶氨酸口溶膜最佳配比为L-茶氨酸0.5 g、HPMC 1.8 g、甘油0.5 mL、钛白粉0.02 g与12 mL水混合,最佳干燥条件为60℃干燥100 min,其物理性能、L-茶氨酸含量及重量差异等指标均满足要求,有望为宠物临床用药提供数据支持。

Process for improving the ladle free- opening rate for high aluminum steel in continuous casting

Steel 20Mn23AlV is a type of high aluminum steel with a very low ladle free-opening rate. The aluminum composition of 20Mn23AlV ranges from 1.6% to 2.45% ,which is significantly higher than other types of steel. According to the real condition of 40 t ladle in steel-making plant of Baosteel Special Steel Company, previous works show that the key factors affecting the ladle free-opening rate of high aluminum steel in continuous casting are：sand material, accessories baking, ladle nozzle cleaning, the process and amount of adding sand, and the rate of argon stirring during refining. Therefore, improving the ladle filler sand quality, baking all of the raw materials, controlling the addition of ladle filler sand, cleaning the ladle nozzle, and optimizing argon stirring during the refining process can resolve the problem of a low ladle free-opening rate of high aluminum steel caused by the long ladle time of liquid steel.

Research on the Casting-forging Precision Forming Process of Alternator Poles

The casting-forging combined technique and the closed die forging without flash-less are both new developed material working methods. The former can not only decrease forming operations of forgings, but also increase the material utilization ratio. Therefore, it is applied to produce more complex forgings. The latter is required for forging precise parts without burrs. The alternator pole is a complex forging, which was usually produced by hot forging, upsetting-extrusion or upsetting-extrusion and bending processes. During these processes, not only the forming force is higher, but the material of burrs accounts for 30 percent or so of total required material. And burrs are difficult to remove in the sequential machining process. In accordance with defects exiting in current manufacturing of alternator poles by upsetting-extruding process, such as more material demand, higher forming force and difficulty of next machining, a casting-forging precision process of alternator poles was developed and investigated in this paper. In the process, the pole was formed by two operations. One is the pre-forming operation by casting. The other is the final forming operation by the closed precision forging process. This can not only shorten processes, decrease material and power demand, but also increase precision of forgings. First, the casting blocker was designed considering the casting process and the forging ratio and the mode of deformation. Then the die structure for closed precision forging was designed, and the closing device for forging dies with spring assemblies in order to provide the necessary closing force was also designed. Finally the forming processes was investigated by test and numerical simulation method to optimum process parameters and die structure design parameters. The result can provide basis for applying the process to manufacture poles in practice.

物化预处理-生化组合工艺处理草甘膦生产废水工程实例

对不同工艺废水采用物化方法分质预处理后,利用厌氧-缺氧-CAST组合工艺处理综合废水,设计处理量为470 m^(3)/d。运行实践表明:中和反应-混凝沉淀对总磷的去除率可以达到46%,整个工艺处理出水COD稳定低于500 mg/L,总磷稳定低于8 mg/L,出水水质达到接管要求。

Vacuum-sealed casting process under pressure

A new casting method, the vacuum-sealed mold casting under pressure, has been developed, and thin wall iron castings with high precision and smooth surface have been produced successfully with this casting method. The experimental results show that the liquid iron has a very excellent filling ability because a high negative pressure is formed in the mold cavity during filling process. The vacuum-sealed mold under pressure has very high compressive strength greater than 650 kPa, which is 3-4 times as high as that of the molds produced by high-pressure molding process or vacuum-sealed molding process.

Neuro-Knowledge-Based Expert System (NKBES) for Optimal Scheming of Die Casting Process

We develop a neuro-knowledge-based expert system (NKBES) frame in this work. The system mainly concerns with decision of gating system and die casting machine based on a neuro-inference engine launched under the MATLAB software environment. For enhancement of reasoning agility, an error back-propagation neural network was applied. A rapidly convergent adaptive learning rate (ALR) and a momentum-based error back-propagation algorithm was used to conduct neuro-reasoning. The working effect of the system was compared to a conventional expert system that is based on a two-way (forward and backward) chaining inference mechanism. As the reference, the present paper provided the neural networks sum-squared error (S5E) and ALR vs iterative epoch curves of process planning case mentioned above. The study suggests that the neuro-modeling optimization application to die casting process design has good feasibility, and based on that a novel and effective intelligent expert system can be launched at low cost.