Hot cracking is one of the major defects in continuous casting of steels, frequently limiting the productivity. To understand the factors leading to this defect, microstructure formation is simulated for a low-carbon and two high-strength low-alloyed steels. 2D simulation of the initial stage of solidification is performed in a moving slice of the slab using proprietary multiphase-field software and taking into account all elements which are expected to have a relevant effect on the mechanical properties and structure formation during solidification. To account for the correct thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the multicomponent alloy grades, the simulation software is online coupled to commercial thermodynamic and mobility databases. A moving-frame boundary condition allows traveling through the entire solidification history starting from the slab surface, and tracking the morphology changes during growth of the shell. From the simulation results, significant microstructure differences between the steel grades are quantitatively evaluated and correlated with their hot cracking behavior according to the Rappaz–Drezet–Gremaud (RDG) hot cracking criterion. The possible role of the microalloying elements in hot cracking, in particular of traces of Ti, is analyzed. With the assumption that TiN precipitates trigger coalescence of the primary dendrites, quantitative evaluation of the critical strain rates leads to a full agreement with the observed hot cracking behavior.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Rappaz, J-M. Drezet, and M. Gremaud: Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 1999, vol. 30A, pp. 449-55.
J.M. Drezet, M. Gremaud, R. Graf, and M. Gäumann: in Proceedings of 5th European Cont. Casting Conference, Birmingham, 2003, pp. 755–63.
P.-D. Grasso, J.-M. Drezet, and M. Rappaz: J. Miner. Met. Mater. Soc. (JOM), 2002, http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/jom.htm.
D.G. Eskin, Suyitno, and L. Katgerman: Prog. Mater. Sci., 2004, vol. 49, pp. 629–711.
T.W. Clyne and G.J. Davies: Br. Foundryman, 1981, vol 4, pp. 65-73.
D. Raabe: Annu. Rev. Mater. Res., 2002, vol. 32, pp. 53–76.
H. Yang, C. Wu, H. Li, and X.G. Fan: Sci. China Technol. Sci. 2011, vol. 54, pp. 2107-18.
Ch.-A. Gandin and M. Rappaz: Acta Metall. Mater. 1994, vol. 42, pp. 2233-46.
A. Wheeler, W.J. Boettinger, and G.B Mc Fadden: Phys. Rev. E, 1993, vol. 47, pp. 1893-1909.
A. Karma, Y.H. Lee, and M. Plapp: Phys. Rev. E, 2000, vol. E61, pp. 3996-4006.
R. Kobayashi: Physica D, 1993, vol. 63, pp. 410-23.
S.G. Kim, W.T. Kim, and T. Suzuki: Phys. Rev. E, 1999, vol. 60, pp. 7186-97.
I. Steinbach, F. Pezzolla, B. Nestler, M. Seeßelberg, R. Prieler, G.J. Schmitz, and J.L.L. Rezende: Physica D, 1996, vol. 94, pp 135-47.
J. Tiaden, B. Nestler, H.J. Diepers, and I. Steinbach: Physica D, 1998, vol. 115, pp. 73-86.
I. Steinbach and F. Pezolla: Physica D, 1999, vol. 134, pp. 385-93.
B. Nestler and A.A. Wheeler: Physica D, 2000, vol. 138, pp. 114-33.
N. Saunders, A. Miodownik: CALPHAD Calculation of Phase Diagrams: A Comprehensive Guide. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1998.
Themo-Calc Software: http://www.thermocalc.se. Accessed 14 Jan 2013.
http://www.micress.de. Accessed 14 Jan 2013.
www.access-technology.de. Accessed 14 Jan 2013.
B. Böttger, U. Grafe, D. Ma, and S.G. Fries: Mater. Sci. Technol., 2000, vol. 16, pp. 1425-28.
J. Eiken, B. Böttger, and I. Steinbach: Phys. Rev. E, 2006, vol. 73, 066122.
J. Rösler, M. Götting, D. Del Genovese, B. Böttger, R. Kopp, M. Wolske, F. Schubert, H.J. Penkalla, T. Seliga, A. Thoma, A. Scholz, and C. Berger: Adv. Eng. Mater., 2003, vol. 5(7), pp. 469-83.
N. Warnken, D. Ma, M. Mathes, and I. Steinbach: Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2005, vol. 413-414, p. 267-71.
B. Böttger, J. Eiken, and I. Steinbach: Acta Mater., 2006, vol. 54, pp. 2697-2704.
B. Böttger, J. Eiken, M. Ohno, G. Klaus, M. Fehlbier, R. Schmid-Fetzer, I. Steinbach, and A. Bührig-Polaczek: Adv. Eng. Mater., 2006, vol. 8(4), pp. 241-27.
I. Steinbach and M. Apel: Acta Mater., 2007, vol. 55, pp. 4817-22.
K. Nakajima, M. Apel, and I. Steinbach: Acta Mater., 2006, vol. 54, pp. 3665-72.
B. Böttger, M. Apel, J. Eiken, P. Schaffnit, and I. Steinbach: Steel Res. Int., 2008, vol. 79(8), pp. 608-16.
D. Senk, S. Stratemeier, B. Böttger, E. Subasic, K. Göhler, and I. Steinbach: Adv. Eng. Mater., 2010, vol. 12(4), pp. 94-100.
B. Böttger, S. Stratemeier, E. Subasic, K. Göhler, I. Steinbach, and D. Senk: Adv. Eng. Mater., 2010, vol. 12(4), pp. 101-09.
Internal Statistical Analysis 2007–2008, Corus, IJmuiden, The Netherlands.
B. Böttger, J. Eiken, and M. Apel: J. Comput. Phys., 2009, vol. 228, pp. 6784-95.
B. Santillana, L.C. Hibbeler, B.G. Thomas, A.A. Kamperman, and W. van der Knoop: ISIJ Int., 2011, vol. 48(10), pp. 1380-88.
http://www.efunda.com. Accessed 14 Jan 2013.
A. Karma and W.J. Rappel: Phys. Rev. E, 1997, vol. 57, pp. 4323-49.
R. Almgren: J. Appl. Math., 1999, vol. 59, pp. 2086-2107.
S.G. Kim: Acta Mater., 2007, vol. 55, p. 4391-99.
A. Choudhury and B. Nestler: Phys. Rev. E, 2012, vol. 85, 021602.
J. Eiken: Mater. Sci. Eng., 2012, vol. 33, 012105.
I. Maxwell and A. Hellawell: Acta Metall., 1975, vol. 23, pp. 229-37.
T.E. Quested and A.L. Greer: Acta Mater., 2004, vol. 52, pp. 3859-68.
A.L. Greer, P.S. Cooper, M.W. Meredith, W. Schneider, P. Schumacher, J.A. Spittle, and A. Tronche: Adv. Eng. Mater., 2003, vol. 5, pp. 81-91.
B. Böttger, M. Apel, B. Santillana, and D.G. Eskin: Mater. Sci. Eng., 2012, vol. 33, 012107.
B. Santillana, B.G. Thomas, G. Botman, and E. Dekker: in Conference Contribution to the 7th ECCC, held in Düsseldorf, Germany on 27 June–1 July 2011.
R. Lagneborg, T. Siwecki, S. Zajac, and B. Hutchinson: Scandinavian Journal of Metallurgy, 1999, vol. 28(5), pp. 186-241.
F. Ma, G. Wen, P. Tang, G. Xu, F. Mei, and W. Wang: Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 2011, vol. 42B, pp. 81-86.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Manuscript submitted January 14, 2013.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Böttger, B., Apel, M., Santillana, B. et al. Relationship Between Solidification Microstructure and Hot Cracking Susceptibility for Continuous Casting of Low-Carbon and High-Strength Low-Alloyed Steels: A Phase-Field Study. Metall Mater Trans A 44, 3765–3777 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-013-1732-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-013-1732-9