ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS OF INTERNAL DISCONTINUITIES IN HIGH CARBON SILICON KILLED STEEL PROCESSED THROUGH INGOT AND CONTINUOUS CASTING ROUTE FOR CRITICAL APPLICATION

Detection and identification of genesis of defects leading to any kind of failure are the preliminary but very important steps towards product quality. Present investigation includes in-depth analysis of the internal discontinuities present in high carbon silicon killed steel, which has been made in Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF), subjected to secondary refining and further processed through bottom pouring ingot route as well as continuous casting through Bloom cum Round caster (BRC). Detailed metallographic study of the inclusions or entrapments was carried out with respect to their type, size, volume fraction and morphology. Compositional evaluation using energy dispersive spectroscopy attached with scanning electron microscope has facilitated the analysis.