Evaluation of the electroslag remelting process in medical grade of 316LC stainless steel

This study is focused on the effects of electroslag remelting by prefused slag (CaO, Al2O3, and CaF2) on macrostructure and reduction of inclusions in the medical grade of 316LC (316LVM) stainless steel. Analysis of the obtained results indicated that for production of a uniform ingot structure during electroslag remelting, shape and depth of the molten pool should be carefully controlled. High melting rates led to deeper pool depth and interior radial solidification characteristics, while decrease in the melting rates caused more reduction of nonmetallic inclusions. Large shrinkage cavities formed during the conventional casting process in the primary ingots were found to be the cause of the fluctuation in the melting rate, pool depth and extension of equiaxed crystals zone. © 2009 by The Editorial Board of Journal of Materials Science & Technology, Shenyang, China. All rights reserved.