Evolution of nonmetallic inclusions in 80-t 9CrMoCoB large-scale ingots during electroslag remelting process

In combination with theoretical calculations,experiments were conducted to investigate the evolution behavior of nonmetallic inclusions(NMIs)during the manufacture of large-scale heat-resistant steel ingots using 9CrMoCoB heat-resistant steel and CaF_(2)–CaO–Al_(2)O_(3)–SiO_(2)–B_(2)O_(3)electroslag remelting(ESR)-type slag in an 80-t industrial ESR furnace.The main types of NMI in the consumable electrode comprised pure alumina,a multiphase oxide consisting of an Al_(2)O_(3)core and liquid CaO–Al_(2)O_(3)–SiO_(2)–MnO shell,and M_(23)C_(6)carbides with an MnS core.The Al_(2)O_(3)and MnS inclusions had higher precipitation temperatures than the M_(23)C_(6)-type carbide under equilibrium and nonequilibrium solidification processes.Therefore,inclusions can act as nucleation sites for carbide layer precipitation.The ESR process completely removed the liquid CaO–Al_(2)O_(3)–SiO_(2)–MnO oxide and MnS inclusion with a carbide shell,and only the Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions and Al_(2)O_(3)core with a carbide shell occupied the remelted ingot.The M_(23)C_(6)-type carbides in steel were determined as Cr_(23)C_(6)based on the analysis of transmission electron microscopy results.The substitution of Cr with W,Fe,or/and Mo in the Cr_(23)C_(6)lattice caused slight changes in the lattice parameter of the Cr_(23)C_(6)carbide.Therefore,Cr_(21.34)Fe_(1.66)C_(6),(Cr_(19)W_(4)C_(6),Cr_(18.4)Mo_(4.6)C_(6),and Cr_(16)Fe_(5)Mo_(2)C_(6)can match the fraction pattern of Cr_(23)C_(6)carbide.The Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions in the remelted ingot formed due to the reduction of CaO,SiO_(2),and MnO components in the liquid inclusion.The increased Al content in liquid steel or the higher supersaturation degree of Al_(2)O_(3)precipitation in the remelted ingot than that in the electrode can be attributed to the evaporation of CaF_(2)and the increase in CaO content in the ESR-type slag.

Critical precipitation behavior of MnTe inclusions in resulfurized steels during solidification

Te treatment is an effective method for modifying sulfide inclusions,and MnTe precipitation has an important effect on thermal brittleness and steel corrosion resistance.In most actual industrial applications of Te treatment,MnTe precipitation is unexpected.The critical precipitation behavior of MnTe inclusions was investigated through scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,machine learning,and first-principles calculation.MnTe preferentially precipitated at the container mouth for sphere-like sulfides and at the interface between MnS grain boundaries and steel matrix for rod-like sulfides.The MnS/MnTe interface was semicoherent.A composition transition zone with a rock-salt structure exhibiting periodic changes existed to maintain the semicoherent interface.The critical precipitation behavior of MnTe inclusions in resulfurized steels involved three stages at varying temperatures.First,Mn(S,Te)precipitated during solidification.Second,MnTe with a rock-salt structure precipitated from Mn(S,Te).Third,MnTe with a hexagonal NiAs structure transformed from the rock-salt structure.The solubility of Te in MnS decreased with decreasing temperature.The critical precipitation behavior of MnTe inclusions in resulfurized steels was related to the MnS precipitation temperature.With the increase in MnS precipitation temperature,the critical Te/S weight ratio decreased.In consideration of the cost-effectiveness of Te addition for industrial production,the Te content in resulfurized steels should be controlled in accordance with MnS precipitation temperature and S content.

Dissolution behavior of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions into CaO-MgO-SiO_(2)-Al_(2)O_(3)-TiO_(2)system ladle slags

To investigate the dissolution behaviors of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions in CaO-5wt%MgO-SiO_(2)-30wt%Al_(2)O_(3)-TiO_(2)system ladle slags,confocal scanning laser microscopy was conducted on the slags with different TiO_(2)contents(0-10wt%),and scanning electron microscopy was performed to study the interfacial reaction between Al_(2)O_(3)and this slag system.The results disclose that the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions does not result in the formation of new phases at the boundary between the slag and the inclusions.In TiO_(2)-bearing and TiO_(2)-free ladle slags,there is no difference in the dissolution mechanism of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions at steelmaking temperatures.Boundary layer diffusion is found as the controlling step of the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3),and the diffusion coefficient is in the range of 4.18×10^(-10)to 2.18×10^(-9)m^(2)/s at 1450-1500℃.Compared with the solubility of Al_(2)O_(3)in the slags,slag viscosity and temperature play a more profound role in the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions.A lower viscosity and a lower melting point of the slags are beneficial for the dissolution.Suitable addition of TiO_(2)(e.g.,5wt%)in ladle slags can enhance the dissolution of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions because of the low viscosity and melting point of the slags,while excessive addition of TiO_(2)(e.g.,10wt%)shows the opposite trend.

Genesis of the Jianbeigou Gold Deposit on the Southern Margin of the North China Craton: Insights from Fluid Inclusions, H-O-S Isotopes, and Pyrite in situ Trace Element Analyses

The Jianbeigou gold deposit is a typical lode gold deposit in the Qinling metallogenic belt, located on the southern margin of the North China Craton. Three stages of the hydrothermal process can be distinguished, including the quartz ± pyrite, quartz-polymetallic sulfide, and quartz-carbonate ± pyrite stages. From the early to late stages, the homogenization temperatures of primary fluid inclusions are 281–362°C, 227–331°C, and 149–261°C, respectively. The corresponding salinities estimated for these fluids are 3.9–9.9 wt%, 0.4–9.4 wt%, and 0.7–7.2 wt% Na Cl equiv. Combined with laser Raman spectroscopy data, the ore-forming fluid belongs to a H_(2)O-CO_(2)-Na Cl ± CH_4 system with medium–low temperature and salinity. The δ~(18)Ofluid and δD values for the quartz veins are-1.0‰ to 6.0‰ and-105‰ to-84‰, respectively, which indicates that the ore-forming fluid is of mixed source, mainly derived from magma, with a contribution from meteoric water. Pyrite has been identified into three generations based on mineral paragenetic sequencing, including Py1, Py2, and Py3. The pyrites have δ~(34)S sulfur isotopic compositions from three stages between 3.7‰ and 8.4‰, indicating that sulfur mainly originated from magma. Te, Bi, Sb, and Cu contents in pyrite were all high and showed a strong correlation with Au concentrations. Native gold and the Au-Ag-Bi telluride minerals were formed concurrently, and the As concentration was low and decoupled from the Au content. Therefore, Te, Bi, Sb and other low-melting point chalcophile elements play an important role for gold mineralization in arsenic-deficient ore-forming fluid. Combined with the geological setting, evolution of pyrite, and ore-fluids geochemistry, we propose that the Jianbeigou deposit can be classified as a magmatic–hydrothermal lode gold deposit. Gold mineralization on the southern margin of the North China Craton is related to Early Cretaceous magmatism and formed in an extensional setting.

Shock-induced energy localization and reaction growth considering chemical-inclusions effects for crystalline explosives

Chemical inclusions significantly alter shock responses of crystalline explosives in macroscale gap experiments but their microscale dynamics origin remains unclear.Herein shock-induced energy localization,overall physical responses,and reactions in a-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane(a-RDX)crystal entrained various chemical inclusions were investigated by the multi-scale shock technique implemented in the reactive molecular dynamics method.Results indicated that energy localization and shock reaction were affected by the intrinsic factors within chemical inclusions,i.e.,phase states,chemical compositions,and concentrations.The atomic origin of chemical-inclusions effects on energy localization is dependent on the dynamics mechanism of interfacial molecules with free space volume,which includes homogeneous intermolecular compression,interfacial impact and shear,and void collapse and jet.As introducing various chemical inclusions,the initiation of those dynamics mechanisms triggers diverse decay rates of bulk RDX molecules and hereby impacts on growth speeds of final reactions.Adding chemical inclusions can reduce the effectiveness of the void during the shock impacting.Under the shockwave velocity of 9 km/s,the parent RDX decay rate in RDX entrained amorphous carbon decreases the most and is about one fourth of that in RDX with a vacuum void,and solid HMX and TATB inclusions are more reactive than amorphous carbon but less reactive than dry air or acetone inclusions.The lessdense shocking system denotes the greater increases in local temperature and stress,the faster energy liberation,and the earlier final reaction into equilibrium,revealing more pronounced responses to the present intense shockwave.The quantitative models associated with the relative system density(RD_(sys))were proposed for indicating energy-localization mechanisms and evaluating initiation safety in the shocked crystalline explosive.RD_(sys)is defined by the density ratio of defective RDX to perfect crystal after dynamics relaxation and reveals the global density characteristic in shocked systems filled with chemical inclusions.When RD_(sys)is below 0.9,local hydrodynamic jet initiated by void collapse dominates upon energy localization instead of interfacial impact.This study sheds light on novel insights for understanding the shock chemistry and physical-based atomic origin in crystalline explosives considering chemical-inclusions effects.

Magmatic-hydrothermal Evolution and Mineralization Mechanisms of the Wangjiazhuang Cu(-Mo)Deposit in the Zouping Volcanic Basin,Shandong Province,China:Constraints from Fluid Inclusions

The Wangjiazhuang Cu(-Mo)deposit,located within the Zouping volcanic basin in western Shandong Province,China,is unique in this area for having an economic value.In order to expound the metallogenetic characteristics of this porphyry-like hydrothermal deposit,a detailed fluid inclusion study has been conducted,employing the techniques of representative sampling,fluid inclusion petrography,microthermometry,Raman spectroscopy,LA-ICP-MS analysis of single fluid inclusions,as well as cathode fluorescence spectrometer analysis of host mineral quartz.The deposit contains mainly two types of orebodies,i.e.veinlet-dissemination-stockwork orebodies in the K-Si alteration zone and pegmatiticquartz sulfide veins above them.In addition,minor breccia ore occurs locally.Four types of fluid inclusions in the deposit and altered quartz monzonite are identified:L-type one-or two-phase aqueous inclusions,V-type vapor-rich inclusions with V/L ratios greater than 50%-90%,D-type multiphase fluid inclusions containing daughter minerals or solids and S-type silicate-bearing fluid inclusions containing mainly muscovite and biotite.Ore petrography and fluid inclusion study has revealed a three-stage mineralization process,driven by magmatic-hydrothermal fluid activity,as follows.Initially,a hydrothermal fluid,separated from the parent magma,infiltrated into the quartz monzonite,resulting in its extensive K-Si alteration,as indicated by silicate-bearing fluid inclusions trapped in altered quartz monzonite.This is followed by the early mineralization,the formation of quartz veinlets and dissemination-stockwork ores.During the main mineralization stage,due to the participation and mixing of meteoric groundwater with magmatic-sourced hydrothermal fluid,the cooling and phase separation caused deposition of metals from the hydrothermal fluids.As a result,the pegmatitic-quartz sulfide-vein ores formed.In the late mineralization stage,decreasing fluid salinity led to the formation of L-type aqueous inclusions and chalcopyrite-sulfosalt ore.Coexistence of V-type and D-type inclusions and their similar homogenization temperatures with different homogenization modes suggest that phase separation or boiling of the ore-forming fluids took place during the early and the main mineralization stages.The formation P-T conditions of S-type inclusions and the early and the main mineralization stages were estimated as ca.156-182 MPa and 450-650℃,350-450℃,18-35 MPa and 280-380℃,8-15 MPa,respectively,based on the microthermometric data of the fluid inclusions formed at the individual stages.

Experimental study on dynamic fracture behavior of three-point bending beam with double deformity inclusions

The dynamic fracture behavior of the three-point bending beam with double deformity inclusions under impact loading is studied by using digital high-speed photography in combination with the transmission-type dynamic caustic method. The experimental results indicate that the fluctuation of crack propagation velocity v first increases and then decreases in the crack propagation process. During the process of crack propagating into the inclusion area, the fracture resistance effect of the circular inclusion is the most significant and the effects of triangular and square inclusions are less obvious. The stress intensity factor near the crack tip increases during the propagation process and reaches its maximum value when the crack tip is close to the inclusions. The crack tip’s dynamic stress intensity factor （ DSIF） decreases when the crack exceeds the middle area of the double inclusions. These results provide an experimental basis and scientific foundation to strengthen the evaluation and fracture analysis of the structure containing deformity inclusions.

Dynamic caustics experimental study on interaction between propagating crack and deformity inclusions in primary structure

The approach combining the dynamic caustics method with high-speed photography technology is used to study the interaction between propagating cracks and three kinds of deformity inclusions（ cylinder inclusion, quadruple inclusion and triangular inclusion） under lowvelocity impact loading. By recording the caustic spots of crack tips at different moments during the crack propagation, the variation regulations of dynamic stress intensity factors（ DSIF） and crack growth velocity with respect to time are obtained. The experimental results showthat the resistance effects to crack growth are varied with different shapes of inclusions in specimens, and the quadruple inclusion＇s effect is more apparent. The distortion degree of caustic spots is affected by the shapes of inclusions as well, and the situation is more serious for cylinder and quadruple inclusions. The overall values of DSIFs of triangular inclusion specimen are greater than the others, and the crack growth velocities, characteristic sizes and DSIFs showprocesses of fluctuations because of the disturbance of reflection waves in specimens. The results provide an experimental basis for the analysis of strength and impact-resistance ability in structures with deformity inclusions.

Effective Moduli of Two-Layered Spherical Inclusions Reinforced Composites

A model is proposed to evaluate the,effective modufi of a composite reinforced by two-layered spherical inclusions.This model is based on the localisation problem of a two- layered spherical inclusion embedded in an infinite matrix.The interations of the reinforced phases are taken into account by using the average matrix stress concept.When the external layer vanishes,the proposed model reduces to the classical Mori-Tanaka's model for spherical inclusions.Theoretical results for the composite of polyester matrix filled by hollow glass spheres and voids show excellent agreement with experimental results.

Comparison between the surface defects caused by Al_2O_3 and TiN inclusions in interstitial-free steel auto sheets

Al_2O_3 and TiN inclusions in interstitial-free(IF) steel deteriorate the properties of the steel. To decrease the defects of cold-rolled sheet, it is important to clearly distinguish between the degrees of damage caused by these two inclusions on the surface quality of the steel. In this study, a nanoindenter was used to test the mechanical properties of the inclusions, and the distribution and size of the inclusions were obtained by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). It was found that when only mechanical properties are considered, TiN inclusions are more likely to cause defects than Al_2O_3 inclusions of the same size during the rolling process. However, Al_2O_3 inclusions are generally more inclined to cause defects in the rolling process than TiN inclusions because of their distribution characteristic in the thickness direction. The precipitation of Al_2O_3 and TiN was obtained through thermodynamical calculations. The growth laws of inclusions at different cooling rates were calculated by solidification and segregation models. The results show that the precipitation regularity is closely related to the distribution law of the inclusions in IF slabs along the thickness direction.

Oxide Inclusions at Different Steps of Steel Production

The formation of oxide inclusions in one of the carbon steel productions of Mobarakeh Steel Complex of Isfahan has been evaluated. Several samples from different steps of steel production were taken, from arc furnace, ladle furnace, tundish, and continuous casting mold. Moreover, samples of slab and hot rolling products were prepared. The samples were investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopes equipped with the EDS system. According to the results, the number, composition, and kind of inclusions were directly influenced by the production variables. It was found that when the amount of dissolved oxygen was high （say more than 0. 002 5%）, the dissolved aluminum was able to reduce silicon oxide and react with the dissolved oxygen simultaneously, whilst, the dissolved aluminum could reduce the magnesium oxide only when the oxygen content was below 0. 000 5%. Based on this research, a mechanism for forming the complex inclusions was suggested. It was also found that if the aluminum is added to the melt as late as possible, a cleaner melt with fewer inclusions is prepared; this method will be more effective, especially in the case of complex inclusions.

Ca-, Al-rich Inclusions in Three New Carbonaceous Chondrites from the Grove Mountains, Antarctica: New Evidence for a Similar Origin of the Objects in Various Groups of Chondrites

Three new carbonaceous chondrites (GRV 020025,021579 and 022459) collected from the Grove Mountains (GRV), Antarctica, have been classified as the CM2, CO3 and CV3 chondrites, respectively. A total of 27 Ca- and Al-rich inclusions have been found in the three meteorites, which are the earliest assemblages formed in the solar nebula. Most of the inclusions are intensively altered, with abundant phyllosilicates in the inclusions from GRV 020025 and FeO enrichment of spinel in those from GRV 022459. Except for one spinel-spherule in each of GRV 020025 and 021579, all the inclusions can be classified as Type A-like or spinel-pyroxene-rich inclusions, and they probably represent the continuum of solar nebular condensation. In addition, most of the inclusions in these meteorites share much similarity in both petrography and mineral chemistry, suggesting a similar origin of Ca-Al-rich inclusions in various chondrites.

Modification of MgO·Al_2O_3 spinel inclusions in Al-killed steel by Ca-treatment

The modification of MgO·Al2O3 spinel inclusions in Al-killed steel by Ca-treatment has been studied by industrial trials and thermodynamic calculations.In the industrial trials,samples were taken systematically during the refining process in which the molten steel was treated by calcium,and the characters of the inclusions were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy dispersive spectra （EDS）.The effects of Ca-treatment were evaluated by tracking the compositions of the inclusions.The results show that the modification of MgO·Al2O3 spinel inclusions by Ca-treatment is effective and the transformation sequence of the inclusions during the refining is Al2O3 →MgO·Al2O3 →liquid complex inclusions.The modification of spinel inclusions by Ca-treatment was calculated by FactSage 6.0 utilizing its free-energy minimization routines.The results of thermodynamic calculations indicate that spinel inclusions are easier to be modified than Al2O3 inclusions and the spinel inclusions in 30CrMo steel would transform to liquid complex inclusions when the content of dissolved Ca in the molten steel exceeds 1×10-6.Also,the results show that adding more calcium into the molten steel would lower the contents of Al2O3 and MgO and increase the CaO content of the inclusions,while the change in SiO2 content is little.

Control of the precipitation of TiN inclusions in gear steels

In the 20CrMnTi steel production process, the nitrogen content increased by 19 × 10^-6 and 29 × 10^-6, respectively, during ladle furnace（LF） refining and during the casting process from ladle to tundish. The protective casting is the key to decrease the N content. The results of thermodynamic calculations and a growth kinetics investigation show that TiN formation occurs only when the solidification fraction is greater than 0.533 under the controlled conditions used in this study for the manufacture of 20CrMnTi steel; the radius of TiN particles decreases as the Ti and N contents decrease and as the cooling rate increases. Furthermore, the theory of austenite grains controlled by second-phase particles was analyzed. The elemental analysis results showed that the Ti content was controlled at 0.04wt%–0.06wt% and the N content decreased to 0.005wt%, which satisfy the requirements for grain refinement but can also effectively prevent the precipitation of TiN inclusions in 20CrMnTi steel.

Characteristics of Al_2O_3, MnS, and TiN inclusions in the remelting process of bearing steel

The Al_2O_3, MnS, and TiN inclusions in bearing steel will deteriorate the steel's mechanical properties. Therefore, elucidating detailed characteristics of these inclusions in consumable electrode during the electroslag remelting process is important for achieving a subsequently clean ingot. In this study, a confocal scanning violet laser microscope was used to simulate the remelting process and observe, in real time, the behaviors of inclusions. The obtained images show that, after the temperature exceeded the steel solidus temperature, MnS and TiN inclusions in the specimen began to dissolve. Higher temperatures led to faster dissolution, and the inclusions disappeared before the steel was fully liquid. In the case of an observed Al_2O_3 inclusion, its shape changed from angular to a smooth ellipsoid in the region where the solid and liquid coexisted and it began to dissolve as the temperature continued to increase. This dissolution was driven by the difference in oxygen potential between the inclusion and the liquid steel.

Effect of continuous casting speed on mold surface flow and the related near-surface distribution of non-metallic inclusions

For the control of surface defects in interstitial-free(IF) steel, quantitative metallographic analyses of near-surface inclusions and surface liquid flow detection via the nail-board tipping method were conducted. The results show that, at casting speeds of 0.8 and 1.0 m/min, a thin liquid mold flux layer forms and non-uniform floating of argon bubbles occurs, inducing the entrainment and subsequent entrapment of the liquid flux; fine inclusion particles of Al_2O_3 can also aggregate at the solidification front. At higher casting speeds of 1.4 and 1.6 m/min, the liquid mold flux can be entrained and carried deeper into the liquid steel pool because of strong level fluctuations of the liquid steel and the flux. The optimal casting speed is approximately 1.2 m/min, with the most favorable surface flow status and, correspondingly, the lowest number of inclusions near the slab surface.

Indirect Methods of Detecting and Evaluating Inclusions in Steel—A Review

Indirect methods to detect and evaluate inclusions in steel are extensively reviewed, which include total oxygen content measurement, nitrogen pickup, steel and slag composition measurement, lining refractory observation, tracer studies of determining exogenous inclusions from slag and lining erosion, SEN clogging and final prod- uct tests. There is no single ideal method of detecting and evaluating inclusions in steel, so it is better to use several methods simultaneously to give a more accurate evaluation. Total oxygen content and nitrogen pickup in low carbon aluminum-killed steel as criterion of clean steel in many plants are summarized.

CO_2 Density-Raman Shift Relation Derived from Synthetic Inclusions in Fused Silica Capillaries and Its Application

The densities of CO2 inclusions in minerals are commonly used to determine the crystallizing conditions of the host minerals. However, conventional microthermometry is difficult to apply for inclusions of small size （〈 5-10 μm） or low density. Raman analysis is an alternative method for determining CO2 density, provided that the CO2 density-Raman shift relation is known. This study aims to establish this CO2 density-Raman shift relation by using CO2 inclusions synthesized in fused silica capillaries. By using this newly-developed synthetic technique, we formed pure CO2 inclusions, and their densities were determined by microthermometry. The Raman analysis showed that the relation between CO2 density （D in g/cm^3） and the separations （△ in cm^-1） between the two main bands （i.e. Fermi diad bands） in CO2 Raman spectra can be represented by a cubic equation： D （g/cm^3）=0.74203（-0.019^3＋5.90332△^2-610.79472△＋21050.30165）-3.54278 （r^2=0.99920）. Our calculated D value for a given A is between those obtained from two previously-reported equations, which were derived from different experimental methods. An example was given in this study to demonstrate that the densities of natural CO2 inclusions that could not be derived from microthermometry could be determined by using our method.

Morphology, size and distribution of MnS inclusions in non-quenched and tempered steel during heat treatment

This article reports the morphology, size, and distribution evolution of MnS inclusions in non-quenched and tempered steel during heat treatment. The variation of single large-sized MnS inclusions at high temperature was observed in situ using a confocal scanning laser microscope （CSLM）. The slender MnS inclusions first changed to pearl-like slrings. These small-sized pearls subsequently coalesced and became closer together as the temperature increased. Large-sized MnS inclusions in non-quenched and tempered steel samples with different thermal histories were investigated with respect to the evolution of their morphology, size, and distribution. After 30 min of ovulation at 1573 K, the percentage of MnS inclusions larger than 3 μm decreased from 50.5% to 3.0%. After a 3 h making period, Ostwald ripening occurred. Most MnS inclusions moved from the grain bounda- ries to the interior. The present study demonstrates that heat treatment is an effective method of changing the morphology, size, and distribution of MnS inclusions, especially large-sized ones.

Effect of slag on oxide inclusions in carburized bearing steel during industrial electroslag remelting

Industrial experiments with three types of slags were performed to investigate the effect of slag on oxide inclusions during electroslag remelting(ESR) process. G20CrNi2Mo bearing steel was used as the consumable electrode and remelted using a 2400-kg industrial furnace. The results showed that most inclusions in the electrode were low-melting-point CaO-MgO-Al_2O_3. After ESR, all the inclusions in ingots were located outside the liquid region. When the slag consisted of 65.70 wt% CaF_2, 28.58 wt% Al_2O_3, and 4.42 wt% CaO was used, pure Al_2O_3 were the dominant inclusions in ingot, some of which presented a clear trend of agglomeration. When the ingot was remelted by a multi-component slag with 16.83 wt% CaO, a certain amount of sphere CaAl_4O_7 inclusions larger than 5 μm were generated in ingot. The slag with 8.18 wt% CaO exhibited greater capacity to control the inclusion characteristics. Thermodynamic calculations indicated that the total Ca and Mg in ingots were attributed from the relics in electrode and strongly influenced by the slag composition. The formation of ingot inclusions was calculated by FactSage^(TM) 7.0, and the results were basically in accordance with the observed inclusions, indicating that a quasi-thermodynamic equilibrium could be obtained in the metal pool.