Evaluation of the Possibilities for Improving Durability of Large Ingot Molds Made of Pig Iron Using Vibration Treatment of the Melt

Molds, which are used for largeingot castings, are operated under severe conditions that combine cyclic temperature loads with the mold metal interactions during mold filling. The paper presents a study of the main technological aspects that affect the durability of large octagonal ingot molds weighing 13000 kg with a wall thickness of 210–270 mm made of pig iron. An assessment of the liquid steel flow distribution in the ingot volume during the bottom casting and the features of their interaction with the walls of the mold was made by using mathematical modeling. The studies were carried out on the effect of vibration treatment on the physical and mechanical characteristics of blast furnace pig iron castings of various weights. It was shown that vibration treatment in a certain frequency range can provide an increase in the pig iron tensile strength and hardness by an average of 20–25% and fluidity by an average of 1.5–1.8 times. Application of an experimentally established vibration treatment mode in the production of industrial molds for 10000 kg ingot castings increased their durability by an average of 16–17%.