DOE OSTI2019
The source, characteristics, and mechanism of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-containing inclusions in Al-deoxidized spring steel were investigated using electron-probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA). Spring samples were collected during vacuum degassing (VD) refining, in a tundish ladle, and after hot rolling, respectively. Based on primary inclusion components, seven types of inclusions were observed through the manufacturing process: Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CaO, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-MgO, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-MgO-CaO, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}-MnO, and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}-CaO. The Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} inclusions were mainly attributed to deoxidization products, less than 15 μm in diameter and with liquidus temperatures exceeding 1600 °C. For Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CaO inclusions, which were considered to be formed by the reduction of entrapped slag by Al dissolved in the steel, the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/CaO ratio obviously decreased with the increase of inclusion sizes. Most Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}-CaO inclusions were less than 15 μm in diameter, with their composition close to that of the refining slag and a liquidus temperature near 1500 °C. The Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-MgO and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}-MnO inclusions originated from inherent reactions between dissolved [Al], [Si], [Mn], [Mg], and [O] in the steel. Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-MgO-CaO inclusions resulted from coalescence between Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-MgO and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CaO inclusions.