Effect of Shape Parameters on the Melting Behavior of Hollow Granular Mold Flux for Continuous Casting

Hollow granular mold flux is an essential functional material in the continuous casting process, and its melting behavior significantly influences continuous casting. Existing researches mainly focus on the influence of carbonaceous materials and carbonates on the melting behavior of mold flux. This study investigates the influence of granule shape parameters on the melting behavior of mold flux using a melting rate tester based on a copper bath. The results show that the gas diffusivity in the powder layer decreases with the decrease in the granule size, which improves the thermal insulation of the powder layer, and promotes the melting of the mold flux. In the mold flux with composite granule size, fine granules will fill in the pores formed by the accumulation of coarse granules, reduce the gas diffusivity, and promote the melting of the mold flux. When the granules have poor sphericity and large porosity, uneven sintering is prone to occur during the heating process, resulting in uneven pores in the sintered layer and affecting the melting uniformity of the mold flux.