Evaluation of electroslag casting

AbstractThe electroslag casting (ESC) process is used widely in the USSR for theproduction of high-quality steel castings. This study examined the reasons for the process's slow acceptance in North America. It is shown that the mould cost can be reduced effectively by employing water-cooled aluminium castings in place of water-cooled fabricated copper moulds. The ESC installation itself can be built with minimum expenditure in an existing shop. The mechanical properties of ESC products have been examined and reported and the results show that ESC castings have properties which are as good as or better than those of the equivalent commercial forgings. Problems associated with product qualification under present Code structures are analysed. The economical evaluation of the ESC process shows that electroslag castings can be cost competitive with conventional castings.