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Inclusion Characterization and Formation Mechanisms in Spring Steel Deoxidized by Silicon

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Abstract

To elucidate the mechanism of formation of inclusions in microalloyed spring steel deoxidized by Si, their number, morphology, and chemical compositions were analyzed by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Wavelength-dispersive spectrometry and Monte Carlo simulation were used to confirm the existence of inherent FeO in the inclusions. Additions of Nb and V did not have an observable influence on the formation of inclusions. Based on the major chemical compositions, the inclusions in spring steel were classified into four types: CaO-SiO2, Al2O3-SiO2, Al2O3-SiO2-CaO, and MnS. Most CaO-SiO2 inclusions were around 10 μm in diameter, with their composition close to that of the refining slag and liquidus temperatures all below 1400 °C. The Al2O3-SiO2 inclusions were mainly attributed to deoxidization products. They were usually multiphased with liquidus temperatures higher than 1500 °C and smaller than 10 μm in diameter. Most Al2O3-SiO2-CaO inclusions with high Al2O3 and SiO2 contents originated from the coalescence of CaO-SiO2 and Al2O3-SiO2 inclusions; those with high CaO and SiO2 contents were considered to form via reduction of CaO-SiO2 inclusions by Al dissolved in the steel.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council and Baosteel Australia Research and Development Centre. The University of Queensland International Research Tuition Award and China Scholarship Council provided scholarships for Mr Sha Lyu. The Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility is thanked for providing characterization facilities. Technical supports for the EPMA facility from Mr. Ron Rasch and Ms. Ying Yu of the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis at the University of Queensland are gratefully acknowledged. We thank Kathryn Sole, PhD, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    Sha Lyu, Xiaodong Ma, Hae-Geon Lee, Geoff Wang, Jin Zou & Baojun Zhao

  2. Baoshan Iron and Steel Co. Ltd, Shanghai, 200122, China

    Zongze Huang & Zan Yao

  3. Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Zhouhua Jiang

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  1. Sha Lyu
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Correspondence to Sha Lyu.

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Manuscript submitted April 18, 2018.

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Lyu, S., Ma, X., Huang, Z. et al. Inclusion Characterization and Formation Mechanisms in Spring Steel Deoxidized by Silicon. Metall Mater Trans B 50, 732–747 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-019-01505-3

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