MATERIALS-RELATED DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITI ES WITH NEW CASTING PROCESSES FOR FLAT STEEL PRODUCTS

Objective. The new near-net-shape production processes are influencing the characteristic properties of materials and the products fabricate d from them. The special features of the new casting processes that ar e of interest for flat steel production in material-related terms were to be presented in a survey. With the aid of examples, the effects on material and product properties were to be discussed and new possibil ities for future materials development demonstrated. Summary. Near-net -shape production routes for flat steel products are characterised by the high cooling rate during and after solidification, the direct coup ling of the casting and rolling stages, and the relatively low amount of hot deformation. From these emerge special material properties, suc h as few micro- and macrosegregations, as well as different microstruc tures and precipitation distributions. The formation of scale, the nea r-surface copper enrichments, the special features of new temperature control practices during hot-rolling, and the influence of the amount of deformation on the toughness properties are also considered. The ef fects of near-net-shape casting processes on the material and product properties are discussed, giving examples; options for new and improve d products are presented. (E 29824).