Dynamic mass variation and multiphase interaction among steel, slag, lining refractory and nonmetallic inclusions: Laboratory experiments and mathematical prediction

The mass transfer among the multiphase interactions among the steel, slag, lining refractory, and nonmetallic inclusions during the refining process of a bearing steel was studied using laboratory experiments and numerical kinetic prediction. Experiments on the system with and without the slag phase were carried out to evaluate the influence of the refractory and the slag on the mass transfer. A mathematical model coupled the ion and molecule coexistence theory, coupled-reaction model, and the surface renewal theory was established to predict the dynamic mass transfer and composition transformation of the steel, the slag, and nonmetallic inclusions in the steel. During the refining process,Al_(2)O_(3) inclusions transformed into Mg O inclusions owing to the mass transfer of [Mg] at the steel/refractory interface and(Mg O) at the slag/refractory interface. Most of the aluminum involved in the transport entered the slag and a small part of the aluminum transferred to lining refractory, forming the Al_(2)O_(3) or Mg O·Al_(2)O_(3). The slag had a significant acceleration effect on the mass transfer. The mass transfer rate(or the reaction rate) of the system with the slag was approximately 5 times larger than that of the system without the slag. In the first 20 min of the refining, rates of magnesium mass transfer at the steel/inclusion interface, steel/refractory interface, and steel/slag interface were x, 1.1 x, and 2.2 x,respectively. The composition transformation of inclusions and the mass transfer of magnesium and aluminum in the steel were predicted with an acceptable accuracy using the established kinetic model.

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.

Evolution and control of nonmetallic inclusions in FeSiB alloy

Inclusions have a great infuence on the quality of FeSiB amorphous ribbon.The evolution behavior of inclusions was analyzed.The results show that the spherical and elliptical inclusions,consisting of Al2O3 and SiO2,mainly come from industrial pure iron.Ellipsoidal inclusions of 20-30μm in pure iron were removed by foatation during the smelting process,and spherical inclusions of 1-3μm combined with deoxidized products in FeSiB melt form Al2O3·SiO2 and CaO·Al2O3·SiO2 inclusions.Some inclusions accumulated on the inner wall of the nozzle during the spraying process,and others fowed out of the nozzle and remained in FeSiB amorphous ribbon.By controlling the total oxygen content in industrial pure iron to 31×10^-6,clogging on the inner wall of the nozzle can be reduced and the free surface smoothness of the amorphous ribbon can be improved.

Influence of crucible material on inclusions in 95Cr saw-wire steel deoxidized by Si–Mn

To investigate the interaction mechanism between 95 Cr saw-wire steel and different refractories,we conducted laboratory experiments at 1873 K.Five crucible materials(SiO2,Al2 O3,MgO·Al2 O3,MgO,and MgO-CaO)were used.The results indicate that SiO2,Al2 O3,and MgO·Al2 O3 are not suitable for smelting low-oxygen,low-[Al]s 95 Cr saw-wire steel,mainly because they react with the elements in the molten steel and pollute the steel samples.By contrast,MgO-CaO is an ideal choice to produce 95 Cr saw-wire steel.It offers three advantages:(ⅰ)It does not decompose by itself at the steelmaking temperature of 1873 K because it exhibits good thermal stability;(ⅱ)[C],[Si],and[Mn]in molten steel cannot react with it to increase the[O]content;and(ⅲ)it not only desulfurizes and dephosphorizes but also removes Al2 O3 inclusions from the steel simultaneously.As a result,the contents of the main elements([C],[Si],[Mn],[Cr],N,T.O(total oxygen))in the steel are not affected and the content of impurity elements([Al]s,P,and S)can be perfectly controlled within the target range.Furthermore,the number and size of inclusions in the steel samples decrease sharply when the MgO-CaO crucible is used.

Evolution of plasticized MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based nonmetallic inclusion in 18wt%Cr-8wt% Ni stainless steel and its properties during soaking process

The properties of MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based plasticized inclusion are likely to change during soaking process due to its low melting point. In this study, the evolution of the MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based inclusion of 18 wt%Cr-8 wt%Ni stainless steel under isothermal soaking process at 1250°C for different times was investigated by laboratory-scale experiments and thermodynamic analysis. The results showed that the inclusion population density increased at the first stage and then decreased while their average size first decreased and then increased. In addition, almost no Cr2O3-concentrated regions existed within the inclusion before soaking, but more and more Cr2O3 precipitates were formed during soaking. Furthermore, the plasticity of the inclusion deteriorated due to a decrease in the amount of liquid phase and an increase in the high-melting-pointphase MnO–Cr2O3 spinel after the soaking process. In-situ observations by high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM) confirmed that liquid phases were produced in the inclusions and the inclusions grew rather quickly during the soaking process. Both the experimental results and thermodynamic analysis conclude that there are three routes for inclusion evolution during the soaking process. In particular, Ostwald ripening plays an important role in the inclusion evolution, i.e., MnO–Al2O3–SiO2-based inclusions grow by absorbing the newly precipitated smaller-size MnO–Cr2O3 inclusions.

Estimation of maximum inclusion by statistics of extreme values method in bearing steel

A statistic method,statistics of extreme values(SEV),was described in detail,which can estimate the size of maximum inclusion in steel.The characteristic size of the maximum inclusion in a high clean bearing steel(GCr15)was evaluated by this method,and the morphology and composition of large inclusions found were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).When standard inspection area(S0)is 280 mm^2,the characteristic size of the biggest inclusion found in 30 standard inspection area is 23.93μm,and it has a 99.9% probability of the characteristic size of maximum inclusion predicted being no larger than 36.85μm in the experimental steel.SEM result shows that large inclusions found are mainly composed of CaS,calcium-aluminate and MgO.Compositing widely exists in large inclusions in high clean bearing steel.Compared with traditional evaluation method,SEV method mainly focuses on inclusion size,and the estimation result is not affected by inclusion types.SEV method is suitable for the inclusion evaluation of high clean bearing steel.

Effect of MgO-Cr_(2)O_(3) and Mg0-MgAl_(2)0_(4)-based refractories on refractory-steel interface reaction and cleanliness of pipeline steel

The interaction of MgO-MgAl_(2)O_(4)-based and MgO-Cr_(2)O_(3)-based refractories with X70 molten steel was studied by immersion experiments at 1560℃.The effects of immersion time(30 and 60 min)on the contents of total oxygen(TO),Al,Nb,Si,Mn,and Cr as well as the composition,number density,and size distribution of inclusions in the molten steel were investigated.The influence of the penetration and erosion degree of the molten steel to the refractory on the steel-refractory interface layer was analyzed.The results show that,at 1560℃,the MgO-MgAl_(2)O_(4)-based refractory can better control the contents of TO and the composition of molten steel compared with the MgO-Cr_(2)O_(3)-based refractory.The TO content is only 16×10^(-4) wt.%in the molten steel after reacted with the Mg0-MgAl_(2)O_(4)-based refractory at the end point of refining,4 accounting for 11.5%of that reacted with the MgO-Cr_(2)O_(3)-based refractory(139×10^(-4) wt.%).The number density of inclusions is only 14 mm^(-2),and the average size ofinclusions is only 1.31μm,with thelargest proportion of inclusions in 1-2μm(70%).The Al_(2)O_(3)-MnS-CaO complex inclusions in the original steel changed to complex inclusions dominated by Cr-Nb-Mn-S-O and MgO.Al_(2)O_(3),corresponding to the MgO-Cr_(2)O_(3)-based and MgO-MgAl_(2)O_(4)-based refractories,respectively.The MgO.Al_(2)O_(3) layer was formed at the reaction interface between MgO-MgAl_(2)O_(4)-based refractory and molten steel,which is helpful to restrict the erosion of refractories and the pollution of molten steel.The damage mechanism of the MgO-Cr_(2)O_(3)-based refractory is mainly permeation and chemical reaction,while the damage of the MgO-MgAl_(2)O_(4)-based refractory is mainlyscouring erosion.