Hydrogen-induced Sticker Breakouts in Continuous Casting of Steel: Chemical Reactions between Ambient Atmosphere, Molten Flux, Molten Steel and Solidified Shell

摘要

Hydrogen-induced sticker breakouts in aluminum-killed steel production without a degassing route have often been reported elsewhere, but so far, yet the mechanism has not been thoroughly explained quantitatively. In order to better understand this phenomenon, we analyzed hydrogen gas evolution from the solidified shell at the early stage of solidification. Moreover, new knowledge has been added for silicon-killed steel production with a degassing route by one of the present authors. Based on analyses, effective measures for stable casting have been carried out and such hydrogen-induced sticker breakouts have been successfully prevented.