Pure Calcium Cored Wire Care

The cored wires used by steel treatment stations, such as ladle-furnaces or vacuum degassing systems, are used to inject metal powder in the molten material. The alloy wire core has a steel core and sheath, with a pure calcium core in the middle. It is used in various applications for deoxidation, desulfurization, inclusion modification and dephosphorization. The alloy core wire is a better alternative to the conventional spraying method of applying deoxidizers into the molten steel because it allows a controlled amount of deoxidizer to be injected in a precise manner and at a high speed.

The alloy core wire can be used with the existing equipment in the steel plants, thereby eliminating the requirement for special lances. It is welded longitudinally. The sheath is swaged and therefore has a very high mechanical strength. The inner core calcium is made of a pure calcium material produced by electrolytic manufacturing and thus completely free from aluminium. The sheath is between 1.4 and 1.6 mm thick, more than three times as thick as conventional cored wire.

The pure calcium cored cable does not contain aluminium and is therefore safer to handle. This is important, especially in the case where accidental contact occurs. It is also important to note that the sheath will not corrode under the influence water and other chemicals, even in the presence slag. This means it can be used with safety in slag processes.

Switching to Hi-Cal in a large European plant reduced the calcium input from conventional 9 mm cored steel wire by up to 2,5 kg per ton. This represents a substantial reduction in calcium consumption and, therefore, a lower cost of production.

Another key advantage of the pure calcium cored wire is its low oxidation rate, which makes it suitable for use in the most sensitive areas of the metallurgical plant and thus significantly reduces the amount of oxygen that is introduced into the steel melt. This increases the level of inclusion modifications and improves the finished product.

The pure cored calcium wire contributes to the reduction of aluminum in the molten iron, which enhances the quality. This is of particular importance in the case slag based steelmaking processes. This also contributes to a higher rate of calcium recovery, reducing the need for further processing. This reduces the need for alloy cored cables and therefore costs.

• Previous: Pure Calcium Cored Wire Varieties
• Next: Pure Calcium Cored Wire Discounts