The macrosegregation behaviour of Fe-C-Cr-Mo type steel in laboratory scale model ingot

In ingot casting, it is important to predict and control segregation and casting defects that occur during the solidification process, because they have a significant effect on the quality of the steel ingot. In some special steels, in typical Fe-C-Cr-Mo type high carbon tool steels, macro-segregation tends to be more pronounced due to their wide solid-liquid coexistence temperature range and molten steel properties such as relatively higher liquid viscosity than basic carbon steels. In order to investigate segregation and defect formation phenomena during solidification, many experiments have been conducted using specially designed laboratory scale model ingots that can induce partial difference of solidification to cause macrosegregation phenomena. However, these kind of experimental approaches for special steels are less conducted and influence of alloy types on the macrosegregation behaviour is still not well understood. In this study, a model ingot which have a steel chill ring in the middle region of a mullite mold was prepared, then Fe-0.45C(mass%) carbon steel, Fe-1C-1.8Cr(mass%) bearing steel and Fe-1C-8Cr-2Mo(mass%) high carbon tool steel were cast into 30kg ingots and the macrosegregation behaviour was investigated.