Nowadays fluxes are widely applied in many processes as “functional materials” for steel production. In the continuous casting of steel, mold fluxes provide the lubrication of the shell, heat transfer control and other functions for smooth castings. The performance of mold fluxes has an impact on the surface quality of steel casting products. Other fluxes, e.g., Electro-slag remelting slags, welding fluxes and cover fluxes for tundish, also strongly affect the process operation and quality of products. Fundamental knowledge on the structure and properties of fluxes and their behaviors in the process is essential to optimize the process and product quality. Research on fluxes have attracted continuous interest from researchers in the steel metallurgy and ceramics field. Newly developed steel products and increasing environmental concerns have brought new challenges in the development of a new generation of smart and eco-friendly fluxes.
This Research Topic aims to provide researchers a forum to present their new and emerging ideas for developing smart and eco-friendly fluxes. This topic will focus on the research of properties and behaviors of fluxes in process and their relations with the quality of products. The research advances in analytical technique for structure and properties of fluxes, the correlation between structure and properties of fluxes and interactions between steel and fluxes are highlighted. The research on the latest development of eco-friendly fluxes free of hazardous materials (e.g., fluorides) and special fluxes for high-alloyed steels are particularly welcomed. Contributions to the correlation between fluxes and steel quality issues (defects, cleanliness) are also welcomed. This Research Topic aims to increase our knowledge of fluxes and their correlation to steel quality through state-of-art research to meet the demand for efficient and sustainable steel production.
Original research, review and mini-review articles are considered. The scope of this Research Topic covers but is not limited to the following themes:
• Mold fluxes and surface quality of steel
• Fluoride-free mold fluxes
• Mold fluxes for casting high alloyed (Al, Ti, …) steel
• Tundish fluxes
• Electro-slag remelting slag
• Welding fluxes
• Correlation between structure and properties of fluxes
Nowadays fluxes are widely applied in many processes as “functional materials” for steel production. In the continuous casting of steel, mold fluxes provide the lubrication of the shell, heat transfer control and other functions for smooth castings. The performance of mold fluxes has an impact on the surface quality of steel casting products. Other fluxes, e.g., Electro-slag remelting slags, welding fluxes and cover fluxes for tundish, also strongly affect the process operation and quality of products. Fundamental knowledge on the structure and properties of fluxes and their behaviors in the process is essential to optimize the process and product quality. Research on fluxes have attracted continuous interest from researchers in the steel metallurgy and ceramics field. Newly developed steel products and increasing environmental concerns have brought new challenges in the development of a new generation of smart and eco-friendly fluxes.
This Research Topic aims to provide researchers a forum to present their new and emerging ideas for developing smart and eco-friendly fluxes. This topic will focus on the research of properties and behaviors of fluxes in process and their relations with the quality of products. The research advances in analytical technique for structure and properties of fluxes, the correlation between structure and properties of fluxes and interactions between steel and fluxes are highlighted. The research on the latest development of eco-friendly fluxes free of hazardous materials (e.g., fluorides) and special fluxes for high-alloyed steels are particularly welcomed. Contributions to the correlation between fluxes and steel quality issues (defects, cleanliness) are also welcomed. This Research Topic aims to increase our knowledge of fluxes and their correlation to steel quality through state-of-art research to meet the demand for efficient and sustainable steel production.
Original research, review and mini-review articles are considered. The scope of this Research Topic covers but is not limited to the following themes:
• Mold fluxes and surface quality of steel
• Fluoride-free mold fluxes
• Mold fluxes for casting high alloyed (Al, Ti, …) steel
• Tundish fluxes
• Electro-slag remelting slag
• Welding fluxes
• Correlation between structure and properties of fluxes