Increasing micro-purity and determining the effects of the production with and without vacuum refining on the qualitative parameters of forged-steel pieces with a high aluminium content

Abstract

The quality production technology for the WNr. 1.8504 steel was developed. The aim of the work was to achieve the required internal micro-purity and determine the effects of different production technologies on the qualitative parameters of forged-steel pieces. Firstly, polygonal ingots weighing 1600 kg were produced, using the metallurgical units, in a controlled-atmosphere induction-melting furnace (IF) without vacuum treatment, and in a vacuum and pressurized induction-melting furnace (VPIM) with vacuum treatment. The ingots were subsequently reshaped by open-die forging into bars with a rectangular cross-section. The effect of the ingot-production technology was evaluated by comparing the forged-steel pieces in terms of their purity, macrostructure and microstructure.