Simulation of microsegregation and the solid/liquid interface progression in the concentric solidification technique

A concentric solidification technique was employed to simulate experimentally the segregation of alloying elements during solidification at the centerline of continuously cast steel. Microstructural development of low carbon steel upon solidification has been observed in situ in a laser-scanning confocal microscope. Microscopic analyses following in situ observations, demonstrate that segregation occurring at steel slabs can reasonably be simulated by the use of the concentric solidification technique. The validity of these experimental simulations has been correlated with mathematical analyses using the Thermo-Calc and DICTRA (Diffusion Controlled Transformation) modeling tools. The effect of cooling rate on the sequence of events during solidification of Fe–0.18%C and Fe–4.2 wt%Ni peritectic alloys was studied and compared with the experimental observations.