Evolution of the Tundish Flux Microstructure During Continuous Casting Process: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

Following the absorption of inclusions, alterations occur in the microstructure of the tundish flux, thereby affecting its performance and diminishing the quality of continuous casting blanks. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze the influence of varying levels of absorbed inclusions on the flux microstructure. The results indicate that the flux continuously absorbs inclusions, such as Al₂O₃ and SiO₂, during the continuous casting process, leading to an increase in the degree of microstructural polymerization. In the later stages of continuous casting, the proportion of bridging oxygen and tricluster oxygen in the tundish flux increased by 3.7% and 5.1%, respectively, while the average bond length of Al-O increased by 0.033 Å. The complexity of the microstructure leads to the deterioration of the physical and chemical properties of the coating, such as melting point and viscosity, and further reduces its ability to absorb inclusions.