The In-Situ Material Characterisation – Bending (IMC-B) Test is a method for the investigation of the susceptibility to surface crack formation under continuous casting conditions. It is possible to investigate significant influencing factors and casting parameters, e.g. different cooling strategies and casting speeds. It allows the characterisation of critical strains values for the formation of surface cracks with defined testing conditions. A second field of application is the determination of high temperature material parameters for in-situ casted samples.

The test can be divided into 3 steps:

Step 1: Melting, casting and solidification

Test parameters 1: steel composition; casting temperature; time in the mould

Step 2: Controlled sample cooling

Test parameters 2: cooling rates; furnace atmosphere

Step 3: Isothermal three-point bending test

Test parameters 3: deformation temperature (600°C – 1200°C); strain rate, total strain values