Morphology Refinement of Eutectic Carbides Assisted by Static Magnetic Field during Laboratory Electroslag Remelting Process

A transverse static magnetic field (TSMF) is implemented in a laboratory electroslag remelting (ESR) experiment to control eutectic carbides morphology of Cr8 die steel herein. Under action of a TSMF, the temperature distribution of the molten pool becomes homogeneous, the local solidification time is shortened, and the interdendritic region space shrinks, which result in an evenly spaced distribution of solute atoms and a reduction in interdendritic segregation. Therefore, the formation and subsequent growth of eutectic carbides are further inhibited, thereby causing the generation of smaller and more uniform distributed eutectic carbides due to the application of the TSMF. Moreover, the increase of the number of Al2O3–(Ti,V)N inclusions serves to be the heterogeneous nucleus of carbides (inclusions also become finer) caused by TSMF, which also contributes to the refinements of eutectic carbides in Cr8 ingots.