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In SituObservation of MgO Inclusions in Liquid Iron-Aluminum Alloys

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Abstract

This study showed that MgO inclusions can be stable in liquid iron with elevated Al and it illustrated an important role of vaporization in the evolution of inclusions. Previous studies have shown that dissolved Al reduces MgO from slags and refractories, leading to spinel (MgAl2O4) inclusions. The elevated Al content of newer steels raises the possibility that MgO inclusions can be stable. In this work, MgO inclusions were produced and observed in an Fe-Al alloy. The inclusions in the liquid alloy at 1873 K (1600 °C) were observed in situ with a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM). Two types of experiments were performed: one where only a metal sample was melted and the other where the sample was in contact with a liquid, MgO-saturated slag. When no slag was present, the MgO inclusions shrank and disappeared at 1873 K (1600 °C). No inclusions were observed in situ during cooling or in post-CLSM analysis. When the MgO-saturated slag was present, the inclusion sizes were essentially constant and MgO was observed on the surface of post-CLSM samples. Analysis of the results showed that MgO can be stable in 1873 K (1600 °C), but that its presence depends on the rate of removal of Mg due to vaporization and the supply of Mg due to slag/metal or refractory/metal reactions.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge support from the industrial members of the Center for Iron and Steelmaking Research. We also acknowledge use of the Materials Characterization Facility at Carnegie Mellon University supported by Grant MCF-677785.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Iron and Steelmaking Research, Materials Science and Engineering Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Haoyuan Mu PhD Student, Tongsheng Zhang Postdoctoral Researcher, Liang Yang Exchange-Program Student, Rodrigo R. Xavier Exchange-Program Student, Undergraduate Student, Richard J. Fruehan Professor & Bryan A. Webler Assistant Professor

  2. Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Rodrigo R. Xavier Exchange-Program Student, Undergraduate Student

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  1. Haoyuan Mu PhD Student
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  2. Tongsheng Zhang Postdoctoral Researcher
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  3. Liang Yang Exchange-Program Student
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  4. Rodrigo R. Xavier Exchange-Program Student, Undergraduate Student
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Correspondence to Tongsheng Zhang Postdoctoral Researcher.

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Manuscript submitted July 13, 2016.

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Mu, H., Zhang, T., Yang, L. et al. In SituObservation of MgO Inclusions in Liquid Iron-Aluminum Alloys. Metall Mater Trans B 47, 3375–3383 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-016-0794-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-016-0794-7

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