Effect of Electroslag Remelting Parameters on Primary Carbides in Stainless Steel 8Cr13MoV

The solidification microstructure and primary carbides in stainless steel 8Cr13MoV produced by electroslag remelting (ESR) were studied. The microstructure is finer when ESR using lower current intensity or higher cooling intensity. The amount of carbides is larger but the fraction is lower when using lower current intensity in ESR. The current intensity has no effect on the morphology and type of primary carbides. Under the condition of higher cooling intensity, distribution of primary carbides is more even, the size and alloy elements content of primary carbides is smaller. With increasing cooling intensity, the primary carbides change from skeleton-like shape composed of many fine clusters to skeleton-like shape composed of regular and short bar-like crystals, and the internal structure of primary carbides become more compact.