The Influence of Ingot Metallurgical Quality on Forging Production

The Influence of Ingot Metallurgical Quality on Forging Production

In the forging of large parts, steel ingots are the cornerstone of raw materials, and their metallurgical quality directly determines the quality and performance of forgings. A high-quality steel ingot, like the soul of refined steel, requires very few inclusions, pure steel, dense and orderly crystal structure, and almost invisible defects. However, in reality, steel ingots are often troubled by defects such as shrinkage, looseness, segregation, inclusions, gas and cracks. These are like hidden undercurrents, threatening the quality and safety of forgings at all times.

In order to cast a perfect steel ingot, we need to start from the source, strictly control the quality of steelmaking furnace materials, auxiliary materials and even refractory materials, ensure that the molten steel is not polluted in the smelting furnace, and maintain its high purity and cleanliness. In addition, the application of off-furnace refining technology is like a deep purification of molten steel. Through a variety of refining methods, such as ladle refining, the synergistic effect of vacuum degassing, arc heating and electromagnetic stirring is used to remove harmful elements and inclusions such as hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur in the molten steel one by one, making the molten steel look brand new, with more balanced mechanical properties and significantly improved quality.

The electroslag remelting method is another display of the art of refining. It cleverly converts conventionally smelted steel into consumable electrodes, and then remelts and washes the slag, like a phoenix rebirth, which greatly reduces the gas and inclusion content in the steel, eliminates the segregation phenomenon, makes the organizational structure dense and has excellent plasticity, and has a reasonable and orderly crystal structure. This method is applied to the production of key materials such as bearing steel, which undoubtedly provides a solid guarantee for the long life of forgings. my country has been at the forefront of the world in this field, with the world's largest 200t-class large-scale electroslag furnace, and has successfully cast many high-quality large forgings, demonstrating its technical strength and industrial heritage.

At the same time, with the vigorous development of the power industry, electric furnace steelmaking has gradually replaced open-hearth steelmaking. This transformation not only conforms to the trend of the times, but also invisibly improves the quality of molten steel and injects new vitality into the production of forgings. The improvement of ingot casting technology is an indispensable link in this chain. Strictly controlling the pouring temperature and speed, and actively adopting new technologies such as heating risers and protective pouring, is like putting a protective coat on the steel ingot, effectively reducing the bottom inclusions and improving the surface quality. For large and important alloy steel forgings, the application of vacuum treatment technology is even more powerful. For example, vacuum carbon deoxidation technology achieves a significant degassing effect by precisely controlling the reaction of carbon and oxygen in molten steel, and the inclusions are completely removed, providing strong support for the production of large power station forgings.

In summary, improving the purity of molten steel and optimizing the metallurgical quality of ingots is not only the only way to produce high-quality forgings, but also the key to promoting the innovation of forging technology and improving the utilization rate of steel ingots. In this process, we need to continue to explore and innovate, use the power of science and technology to cast the spirit of steel, and contribute to the prosperity and development of the forging industry.