Determination of the Insoluble Aluminum Content in Steel Samples by Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The insoluble aluminum content in steel samples has a significant influence on the quality of the steel. In this paper, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy （LIBS） is used to analyze the insoluble aluminum content in steel samples using a scanning mode. The average intensity plus 2.5 standard deviations was iterated and the final iteration value was taken as the threshold that distinguishes soluble and insoluble aluminum, and thus total and soluble aluminum content calibration curves were generated. Using the relevant total and soluble aluminum content calibration curves, the total and soluble aluminum contents in steel samples could be determined. The insoluble aluminum content could be determined by subtracting the soluble aluminum content from the total aluminum content. The insoluble aluminum content of standard samples and process product samples were determined using the present mathematical model; the results agreed well with the certified reference values. This method could be used to rapidly characterize the insoluble aluminum content in steel samples.

Variation and optimization of acid-dissolved aluminum content in stainless steel

As a key step in secondary refining, the deoxidation process in clean stainless steel production is widely researched by many scholars. In this study, vacuum oxygen decarburization（VOD） deoxidation refining in a 40-t electric arc furnace ＋ VOD ＋ ingot casting process was analyzed and optimized on the basis of Al deoxidation of stainless steel and thermodynamic equilibrium reactions between the slag and steel. Under good stirring conditions in VOD, the deoxidation reaction reaches equilibrium rapidly, and the oxygen activity in the bulk steel is controlled by the slag composition and Al content. A basicity of 3–5 and an Al content greater than 0.015wt% in the melt resulted in an oxygen content less than 0.0006wt%. In addition, the dissolved oxygen content decreased slightly when the Al content in the steel was greater than 0.02wt%. Because of the equilibrium of the Si–O reaction between the slag and steel, the activity of SiO2 will increase while the Si content increases; thus, the Si content should be lowered to enable the formation of a high-basicity slag. A high-basicity, low-Al2O3 slag and an increased Si content will reduce the Al consumption caused by SiO2 reduction.

The protoliths to the sillimanite gneisses from the Larsemann Hills and geological implication in their formation

The source rock from which the sillimanite gneisses derive mainly was the biotite plagioclase gneiss in the Larsemann Hills. It is the deformation-metamorphism process under special pressure and temperature condition, not the original rock compositions, that controls the presence of sillimanite. To a great degree, the sillimanite gneiss was the mixture of the detaining materials of the migrating felsic melt from the bt-plagioclase gneiss that underwent partial melting and the relics when the melt was removed. In sillimanitization the original rock had been changed substantially in chemical composition. The related metamorphism process severely deviated from the isochemical series, the process was of, therefore, an open system. In addition, the Al2O3 contents of the original rock was an important, but not critical factor for the formation of sillimanite, i. e. , the sillimanite-bearing rock need not be of aluminum rich in composition, and vise contrarily, the aluminum rock may not produce sillimanite. The authors of the present paper postulate that the source rock from which the aluminum rich rock derives need not be of aluminum rich, but sillimanitization is generally the Al2O3 increasing process. The aluminum rich sediments such as clay or shale need not correspond directly to sillimanite-rich gneisses. No argillaceous rock present equals to sillimanite-rieh gneiss in chemical composition. The protoliths to the sillimanite gneisses from the Larsemann Hills, east Antarctica, and their adjacent area may be pelite, shale greywacke, sub-greywaeke, quartz sandstone and quartz-tourmalinite. If correct, the conclusion will be of significant implication for the determination of the sillimanite gneiss formation process and the reconstruction of the protolith setting.

Effects of cooling rate and Al on MnS formation in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steels

The effect of Al on the morphology of MnS in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steel was investigated at three different cooling rates of 0.24, 0.43, and 200°C·s^-1. The formation mechanisms of three types of MnS were elucidated based on phase diagram information combined with crystal growth models. The morphology of MnS is governed by the precipitation mode and the growth conditions. A monotectic reaction and subsequent fast solidification lead to globular Type I MnS. Type II MnS inclusions with different morphological characteristics form as a result of a eutectic reaction followed by the growth in the Fe matrix. Type III MnS presents a divorced eutectic morphology. At the cooling rate of 0.24°C·s^-1, the precipitation of dispersed Type III MnS is significantly enhanced by the addition of 0.044wt% acid-soluble Al（Als）, while Type II MnS clusters prefer to form in steels with either 0.034wt% or 0.052wt% Als. At the relatively higher cooling rates of 200°C·s^-1 and 0.43°C·s^-1, the formation of Type I and Type II MnS inclusions is promoted, and the influence of Al is negligible. The results of this work are expected to be employed in practice to improve the mechanical properties of non-quenched and tempered steels.

Effect of Solution Heat Treatment in α+β Phase Region on Shape Memory Characteristics of Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti Alloys

The effect of aluminium content and solution heat treatment in α+β phase region on the shape memory characteristics and mechanical properties of cold wrought Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti alloy are studied in this paper. Results indicate that the transformation temperature (Tt) of Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti alloy reduces obviously with the increase of the amount of α-phase. During aging at 623 K, Tt increases at first up to a peak value, then decreases with prolongation of aging time. Life time of heat resistance of the alloy at high temperatures is improved with increase of the amount of α-phase, this life time becomes poor with Bainite precipitation. When the amount of α-phase is less than 5%, the ratio of shape recovery brought about by the solution heat treatment in α+β phase region is almost not effected. However, plasticity of the alloy increases obviously as aluminium content decreases. We believe that improving cold workability of Cu-Al-Ni-Mn-Ti alloy and keeping good heat resistant property and shape memory effects are possible by means of reducing the content of aluminium and solulion heat treatment in α+β phase region.

Macro to nanoscale deformation of transformation-induced plasticity steels：Impact of aluminum on the microstructure and deformation behavior

This work aims to elucidate the impact of aluminum-content on microstructure and deformation mechanisms of transformation-induced plasticity（TRIP） steels through macroscale and nanoscale deformation experiments combined with post-mortem electron microscopy of the deformed region.The solid-state transformation-induced mechanical deformation varied with the Al contents,and influenced tensile strength-ductility combination.Steels with 2–4 wt% Al were characterized by TRIP effect.In contrast to 2 Al-TRIP and 4 Al-TRIP steels,twinning-induced plasticity（TWIP） was also observed in conjunction with strain-induced martensite in 6 Al-TRIP steel.This behavior is attributed to the increase in stacking fault energy with the increase of Al content and stability of austenite,which depends on the local chemical variation.The study addresses the knowledge gap with regard to the effect of Al content on austenite stability in medium-Mn TRIP steels.This combination is expected to potentially enable cost-effective alloy design with high strength-high ductility condition.