Electrometallurgy Today, 2025, №03

2025 №03 (03)

2025 №03 (05)

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"Suchasna Elektrometallurgiya" (Electrometallurgy Today), 2025, #3, 51-58 pages

Causes for Fe–25Mn–10Al–1Si–2Ni–2Cr–1.4C–0.1V steel fracture due to hot plastic deformation after electroslag remelting of a cast electrode with an increased content of non-metallic inclusions

M.M. Voron¹, A.M. Tymoshenko¹, A.Yu. Semenko¹, Yu.P. Skorobagatko¹, O.M. Smirnov¹, S.L. Schwab²

¹Physico-Technological Institute of Metals and Alloys of the NAS of Ukraine. 34/1 Vernadskii Blvd, 03680, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: mykhailo.m.voron@gmail.com
²E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine 11 Kazymyr Malevych Str., 03150, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: serg.schwab@gmail.com

Abstract
The paper describes the reasons for the growing relevance of research related to steels with a low density and high manganese and aluminum content. The importance and prospects of improving the technological processes for smelting such steels are shown, which remain quite complex and expensive. The most economically advantageous method for smelting Fe–Mn–Al–C steels is open induction melting using secondary materials and pure components of ordinary quality as charge materials. Such a technological process is characterized by the presence of a large number of non-metallic inclusions in the as-cast metal, so it is advisable to conduct it in combination with refining remelting, in particular — electroslag process. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed solution, Fe–25Mn–10Al–1Si–2Ni–2Cr– 1.4C–0.1V steel was smelted and its electroslag remelting was carried out. Studies of the integral and local chemical composition and microstructure of the initial steel sample in the as-cast state and after remelting showed that induction melted steel contains carbide-phosphide eutectic. After electroslag remelting, the total amount of non-metallic inclusions decreased, and the microstructure was refined, becoming more uniform without any harmful structural eutectic components. The ESR-sample was subjected to hot plastic deformation, which led to its destruction. It was found that the reason for this was the large columnar structure and the accumulation of oxide films on the surface of the of individual dendrites branches. The obtained data indicates the need to improve the processes of electroslag remelting of the studied type of steels in the context of more effective oxide inclusions removal into the slag and structure refining. 13 Ref., 2 Tabl., 6 Fig.
Keywords: steel, electroslag remelting, consumable electrode, slag, flux, filling ratio, remelting efficiency, ingot, non-metallic inclusions, chemical composition, structure, hot plastic deformation

Received: 07.06.2025
Received in revised form: 14.07.2025
Accepted: 04.08.25

References

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