A critical condition for the formation of a coarse columnar γ grain structure in a peritectic solidified carbon steel

The formation of a coarse columnar austenite grain (CCG) structure is a serious problem in continuous casting processes of peritectic solidified carbon steels. In this study, a guiding principle for the avoidance of CCG formation is developed. The critical condition for CCG formation recently put forward based on phase-field simulations, which is given by a balance between the cooling condition and the growth rate of the CCG, is first re-examined and modified by considering the effect of a liquid phase during the CCG formation. The validity of this critical condition is then investigated by three different casting experiments combined with heat conduction analyses. From a comparison between the cooling conditions and the resulting microstructural changes, the validity of the critical condition is successfully demonstrated.