AISI 321不锈钢钢钢包精炼过程中钙含量对夹杂物的影响

The effect of three heat processes with different calcium contents on the evolution of inclusions during the ladle furnace refining process of AISI 321 stainless steel was investigated. The size, morphology, and composition of the inclusions were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. After the addition of aluminum and titanium, the primary oxide in the AISI 321 stainless steel was an Al₂O₃–MgO–TiO_x complex oxide, in which the mass ratio of Al₂O₃/MgO was highly consistent with spinel (MgO·Al₂O₃). After calcium treatment, the calcium content in the oxide increased significantly. Thermodynamic calculations show that when the Ti content was 0.2wt%, the Al and Ca contents were less than 0.10wt% and 0.0005wt%, respectively, which was beneficial for the formation of liquid inclusions in molten steel. Moreover, the modification mechanism of calcium on TiN-wrapped oxides in combination with temperature changes was discussed.     

Effect of Al content on the reaction between Fe-10Mn-xAl(x=0.035wt%,0.5wt%,1wt%,and 2wt%)steel and CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO slag

The effect of Al content(0.035 wt%,0.5 wt%,1 wt%,and 2 wt%)on the composition change of steel and slag as well as inclusion transformation of high manganese steel after it has equilibrated with Ca O-Si O₂-Al₂O₃-Mg O slag was studied using the method of slag/steel reaction.The experimental results showed that as the initial content of Al increased from 0.035 wt%to 2 wt%,Al gradually replaced Mn to react with Si O₂in slag to avoid the loss of Mn due to the reaction;this process caused both Al₂O₃in slag and Si in steel to increase while Si O₂and Mn O in slag to reduce.In addition,the type of inclusions also evolved as the initial Al content increased.The evolution route of inclusions was Mn O→Mn O-Al₂O₃-Mg O→Mg O→Mn O-Ca O-Al₂O₃-Mg O and Mn O-Ca O-Mg O.The shape of inclusions evolved from spherical to irregular,became faceted,and finally transformed to spherical.The average size of inclusions presented a trend that was increasing first and then decreasing.The transformation mechanism of inclusions was explored.As the initial content of Al increased,Mg and Ca were reduced from top slag into molten steel in sequence,which consequently caused the transformation of inclusions.     

Nucleation and three-dimensional morphology of intragranular ferrite in a vanadium microalloyed steel

The formation of intragranular ferrite at inclusions was analyzed by SEM-EDX in a vanadium microalloyed steel with an excess amount of sulfur. The precipitation of MnS at aluminum oxides may result in Mn depletion, which, in turn, promotes the formation of intragranular ferrite. The morphology of intragranular ferrite changed with undercooling. At higher temperatures intragranular ferrite is nearly equiaxed whereas it is plate-like at lower temperatures.     

非金属夹杂物对弹簧钢局部腐蚀的影响

Certain inclusions in high-strength 60Si2Mn–Cr spring steel result in poor resistance to localized corrosion. In this work, to study the effect of inclusions on the localized corrosion behavior of spring steel, accelerated corrosion tests were performed by immersing spring steel in 3wt% FeCl₃ solution for different times. The results show that severe corrosion occurred in areas of clustered CaS inclusions. Sulfide inclusions containing Ca and Mg induced the strongest localized corrosion susceptibility. For the case of (Ca,Mn,Mg)S inclusions, the ability to induce localized corrosion susceptibility is ranked as follows: MgS > CaS > MnS. Moreover, CaS, (Ca,Mn)S, and (Ca,Mn,Mg)S inclusions were mainly responsible for inducing environmental embrittlement.     

Thermodynamic analysis on the formation mechanism of MgO·Al_2O_3 spinel type inclusions in casing steel

MgO·Al2O3 spinel type inclusions in casing steel were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS).The results show that there are three forms.One is pure MgO·Al2O3 spinel,another is the composite oxide of the Mg-Al-Ca-Si-O system,and the third is the complex with oxide as a core covered by sulfide.The formation mechanisms were studied.The influences of slag basicity and vacuum degree on the magnesium content during the vacuum treatment of molten steel and furnace lining in molten steel were calculated with the coexistence theory of slag structure.The results show that the magnesium content increases with the increase in slag basicity and aluminum content in molten steel,and decreases with the increase in CO partial pressure.     

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℃·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℃·s-1, the precipitation of dispersed Type III MnS is significantly enhanced by the addition of 0.044wt% acid-soluble Al (Al_s), while Type II MnS clusters prefer to form in steels with either 0.034wt% or 0.052wt% Al_s. At the relatively higher cooling rates of 200℃·s-1 and 0.43℃·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.     

Cleanliness of Ti-bearing Al-killed ultra-low-carbon steel during different heating processes

During the production of Ti-bearing Al-killed ultra-low-carbon (ULC) steel, two different heating processes were used when the converter tapping temperature or the molten steel temperature in the Ruhrstahl-Heraeus (RH) process was low:heating by Al addition during the RH decarburization process and final deoxidation at the end of the RH decarburization process (process-I), and increasing the oxygen content at the end of RH decarburization, heating and final deoxidation by one-time Al addition (process-Ⅱ). Temperature increases of 10℃ by different processes were studied; the results showed that the two heating processes could achieve the same heating effect. The T.[O] content in the slab and the refining process was better controlled by process-I than by process-Ⅱ. Statistical analysis of inclusions showed that the numbers of inclusions in the slab obtained by process-I were substantially less than those in the slab obtained by process-Ⅱ. For process-I, the Al₂O₃ inclusions produced by Al added to induce heating were substantially removed at the end of decarburization. The amounts of inclusions were substantially greater for process-Ⅱ than for process-I at different refining stages because of the higher dissolved oxygen concentration in process-Ⅱ. Industrial test results showed that process-I was more beneficial for improving the cleanliness of molten steel.     

添加钇不锈钢热处理过程中其氧化物夹杂物的温度依赖性演化

The evolution of oxide inclusions during isothermal heating of 18Cr–8Ni stainless steel with yttrium addition at temperatures of 1273 to 1573 K was investigated systematically. Homogeneous spherical Al–Y–Si(–Mn–Cr) oxide inclusions were observed in as-cast steel. After heating, most of the homogeneous inclusions were transformed into heterogeneous inclusions with Y-rich and Al-rich parts, even though some homogeneous oxide particles were still observed at 1273 and 1573 K. With the increase in heating temperature, more large-sized inclusions were formed. The shape of the inclusions also changed from spherical to irregular. The maximum transformation temperature of inclusions was determined to be 1373 K. The evolution mechanism of inclusions during heating was proposed to be the combined effect of the (i) internal transformation of inclusions due to the crystallization of glassy oxide and (ii) interfacial reaction between inclusions and steel matrix. Meanwhile, the internal transformation of inclusions was considered to be the main factor at heating temperatures less than 1473 K.     

Temperature-dependent evolution of oxide inclusions during heat treatment of stainless steel with yttrium addition

The evolution of oxide inclusions during isothermal heating of 18Cr–8Ni stainless steel with yttrium addition at temperatures of 1273 to 1573 K was investigated systematically. Homogeneous spherical Al–Y–Si(–Mn–Cr) oxide inclusions were observed in as-cast steel.After heating, most of the homogeneous inclusions were transformed into heterogeneous inclusions with Y-rich and Al-rich parts, even though some homogeneous oxide particles were still observed at 1273 and 1573 K. With the increase in heating temperature, more large-sized inclusions were formed. The shape of the inclusions also changed from spherical to irregular. The maximum transformation temperature of inclusions was determined to be 1373 K. The evolution mechanism of inclusions during heating was proposed to be the combined effect of the(i)internal transformation of inclusions due to the crystallization of glassy oxide and(ii) interfacial reaction between inclusions and steel matrix.Meanwhile, the internal transformation of inclusions was considered to be the main factor at heating temperatures less than 1473 K.     

Novel mechanism for the modification of Al_2O_3-based inclusions in ultra-low carbon Al-killed steel considering the effects of magnesium and calcium

Many researchers have explored the inclusion modification mechanism to improve non-metallic inclusion modifications in steelmaking. In this study, two types of industrial trials on inclusion modifications in liquid steel were conducted using ultra-low-carbon Al-killed steel with different Mg and Ca contents to verify the effects of Ca and Mg contents on the modification mechanism of Al_2O_3-based inclusions during secondary refining. The results showed that Al_2O_3-based inclusions can be modified into liquid calcium aluminate or a multi-component inclusion with the addition of a suitable amount of Ca. In addition, [Mg] in liquid steel can further reduce CaO in liquid calcium aluminate to drive its evolution into CaO–MgO–Al_2O_3 multi-component inclusions. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed that the reaction between [Mg] and CaO in liquid calcium aluminate occurs when the MgO content of liquid calcium aluminate is less than 3 wt% and the temperature is higher than 1843 K.     

Thermodynamic calculations and experiments on inclusions to be nucleation sites for intragranular ferrite in Si-Mn-Ti deoxidized steel

Microstructures and inclusions in the Si-Mn-Ti deoxidized steels after cooling in the furnace were investigated. The composition and morphology of the inclusions were analyzed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The kind and composition of the inclusions calculated from the thermodynamic database were in good agreement with the experimental results. There were two main kinds of inclusions formed in the Si-Mn-Ti deoxidized steels. One kind of inclusion was the manganese titanium oxide (Mn-Ti oxide). Another kind of inclusion was the MnS inclusion with segregation points containing Ti and N. According to the thermodynamic calculation, those segregation points were TiN precipitates. The formation of intragranular ferrite (IGF) microstructures refined the grain size during the austenite-ferrite transformation. The mechanisms of IGF formation were discussed. Mn-Ti oxide inclusions with Mn-depleted zone (MDZ) were effective to be nucleation sites for IGF formation, because the MDZ increased the austenite-ferrite transformation temperature. TiN had the low misfit ratio with IGF, so the TiN precipitated on the MnS surface also promoted the formation of IGF because of decreasing interfacial energies.     

Effects of TiC on the microstructure and formation of acicular ferrite in ferritic stainless steel

The formation mechanism of acicular ferrite and its microstructural characteristics in 430 ferrite stainless steel with TiC additions were studied by theory and experiment. Using an "edge-to-edge matching" model, a 5.25 mismatch between TiC (FCC structure) and ferritic stainless steel (BCC structure) was identified, which met the mismatch requirement for the heterogeneous nucleation of 430 ferritic stainless steel. TiC was found to be an effective nucleation site for the formation of acicular ferrite in a smelting experiment, as analyzed by metallographic examination, Image-Pro Plus 6.0 analysis software, and SEM-EDS. Furthermore, small inclusions in the size of 2-4 μm increased the probability of acicular ferrite nucleation, and the secondary acicular ferrite would grow sympathetically from the initial acicular ferrite to produce multi-dimensional acicular ferrites. Moreover, the addition of TiC can increase the average microstrain and dislocation density of 430 ferrite stainless steel, as calculated by Williamson-Hall (WH) method, which could play some role in strengthening the dislocation.     

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 strings. 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 soaking period, Ostwald ripening occurred. Most MnS inclusions moved from the grain boundaries 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.     

Novel approaches to produce Al2O3– TiC/TiCN– Fecomposite powders directly from ilmenite

Al2O3 –TiC/TiCN–Fe composite powders were successfully prepared directly from ilmenite at 1300–1400℃.The effects of Al/C ratio,sintering atmosphere,and reaction temperature and time on the reaction products were investigated.Results showed that the nitrogen atmosphere was bene cial to the reduction of ilmenite and the formation of Al2O3 –TiC/TiCN–Fe composite powders.When the reaction temperature was between 600 and 1100℃,the intermediate products,TiO2,Ti3O5 and Ti4O7 were found,which changed to TiC or TiCN at higher temperature.Al/C ratio was found to affect the reaction process and synthesis products.When Al addition was 0.5 mol,the Al2O3 phase did not appear.The content of carbon in TiCN rose when the reaction temperature was increased.     

Influence of CeO_2 addition on the preparation of foamed glass-ceramics from high-titanium blast furnace slag

Foamed glass-ceramics doped with cerium oxide(CeO_2)were successfully prepared from high-titanium blast furnace slag by one-step sintering.The influence of CeO_2 addition(1.5wt%–3.5wt%)on the crystalline phases,microstructure,and properties of foamed glass-ceramics was studied.Results show that CeO_2 improves the stability of the glass phase and changes the two-dimensional crystallization mechanism into three-dimensional one.XRD analysis indicates the presence of Ca(Mg,Fe)Si_2O_6 and Ca(Ti,Mg,Al)(Si,Al)_2O_(6 )in all sintered samples.Added with CeO_2,Ti CeO_4 precipitates,and crystallinity increases,leading to increased thickness of pore walls and uniform pores.The comprehensive properties of foamed glass-ceramics are better than that of samples without CeO_2.In particular,the sample added with a suitable amount of CeO_2(2.5wt%)exhibits bulk density that is similar to and compressive strength(14.9 MPa)that is more than twice of foamed glass-ceramics without CeO_2.     

Tuning microstructure,transformation behavior,mechanical/functional properties of Ti-V-Al shape memory alloy by doping quaternary rare earth Y

The microstructure features, martensitic transformation behavior and mechanical/functional properties of Ti–V–Al alloy were tailored by changing rare element Y content in the present investigation. The results showed that Y doping resulted in the grain refinement and formation of Y-rich phase mainly distributing along grain boundary in Ti–V–Al alloys. The martensitic transformation temperatures of Ti–V–Al alloys slightly increased due to the variation of matrix composition induced by the presence of Y-rich phase. The mechanical and functional properties of Ti–V–Al alloys doped moderate Y addition were significantly improved, which can be ascribed to grain refinement, solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening. The 1.0 at.%Y-doped Ti–V–Al alloy exhibited the highest ultimate tensile stress of 912 MPa and largest elongation of 17.68%. In addition, it was found that the maximum recoverable strain of 5.42% can be obtained in Ti–V–Al alloy with adding 1.0 at.%Y,under the pre-strain of 6% condition, which is enhanced by approximate 0.6% than that of Ti–V–Al alloy without Y addition.     

Effect of nonmetallic inclusions on localized corrosion of spring steel

Certain inclusions in high-strength 60 Si2Mn–Cr spring steel result in poor resistance to localized corrosion. In this work, to study the effect of inclusions on the localized corrosion behavior of spring steel, accelerated corrosion tests were performed by immersing spring steel in 3 wt% FeCl_3 solution for different times. The results show that severe corrosion occurred in areas of clustered Ca S inclusions. Sulfide inclusions containing Ca and Mg induced the strongest localized corrosion susceptibility. For the case of(Ca,Mn,Mg)S inclusions, the ability to induce localized corrosion susceptibility is ranked as follows: Mg S Ca S Mn S. Moreover, Ca S,(Ca,Mn)S, and(Ca,Mn,Mg)S inclusions were mainly responsible for inducing environmental embrittlement.     

Effect of inclusions on the formation of acicular ferrite in Ti-bearing non quenched-and-tempered steel

Nucleation of acicular ferrite and its influence factors in non quenched-and-tempered steel was studied by using TEM and thermodynamic calculation. The results show that the complex particles with a center made of Ti oxide, Al₂O₃, and silicate and an outside made of a small quantity of mixture of TiN and MnS are able to act as ferrite nucleation nuclei. The acicular ferrite percentage changes little with Ti. When the oxygen content was 80 ppm, the volume percentage of acicular ferrite decreased due to an increase in allotriomorphic ferrite. The larger the cooling rate and the shorter the incubation time, the finer the titanium oxide and the higher the nucleation ratio of acicular ferrite.     

Precipitation behavior of BN type inclusions in 42CrMo steel

Automobile crankshaft steel 42CrMo, which requires excellent machinability and mechanical properties, cannot be manufactured by traditional methods. To achieve these qualities, the formation behavior of boron nitride (BN) inclusions in 42CrMo steel was studied in this article. First, the precipitation temperature and the amount of BN type inclusions with different contents of boron and nitrogen in molten steel were calculated thermodynamically by FactSage software. Then the morphology and the size of BN type inclusions as well as the influence of cooling methods on them were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the effects of cooling rate and the contents of B and N in molten steel on the morphology, size, and distribution of BN type inclusions were studied quantitatively and detailedly by directional solidification experiments. It is found that different BN inclusions in molten steel can form by controlling the cooling rate and the contents of B and N, which is important for obtaining the excellent machinability of 42CrMo steel.     

Analysis on composition and inclusions of ballpoint pen tip steel

Ballpoint pen tip steel, a super free-cutting stainless steel, exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and good machining properties. In this study, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, metallographic microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine the elemental contents in five ballpoint pen tips and their components, morphologies, and inclusion distributions. The results showed that the steels were all S-Pb-Te super free-cutting ferritic stainless steel. The free-cutting phases in the steels were mainly MnS, Pb, and small amounts of PbTe. MnS inclusions were in the form of chain distributions, and the aspect ratio of each size inclusion in the chain was small. The stress concentration effect could substantially reduce the cutting force when the material was machined. Some of the Pb was distributed evenly in the steel matrix as fine particles (1-2 μm), and the rest of the Pb was distributed at the middle or at both ends of the MnS inclusions. The Pb plays a role in lubrication and melting embrittlement, which substantially increases the cutting performance. PbTe was also usually distributed in the middle and at both ends of the MnS inclusions, and Te could convert the sulfides into spindles, thereby improving the cutting performance of the steel.