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Effect of Cerium Content on Precipitation Behavior of Inclusions in High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel

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Abstract

The effect of Ce content on the precipitation behavior of rare earth inclusions in Al-killed HSLA steel was investigated by SEM-EDS and automatic inclusion analysis system. The type, morphology, number and size of rare earth inclusions were observed and counted. The mode of precipitation of the rare earth inclusions were predicted by Factsage 8.0 thermodynamics software and confirmed by experimental observations. The results indicate that the typical inclusions of HSLA steel change in composition from Ce–O to Ce–O–S and finally to CeS with increase in Ce content. Importantly the inclusions are small and spheroid and decrease in size with increase in Ce content up to 0.036%, and their size is considerably less than the 5 μm blocky Al2O3 inclusions formed in the absence of Cerium. This should improve their weldability. Most Ce–O and Ce–O–S inclusions were formed in the steel molten, while Ce–S was mainly formed during solidification.

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Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support of the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China (No. 2020MS0517) and Science and Technology Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China (No. 2020GG0109).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yang Liu, Jing Li & Ruming Geng

  2. Baotou Iron and Steel Group Corp, Baotou, 014010, China

    Jianguo Zhi & Bin Lu

  3. Inner Mongolia Enterprise Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Steel Products Research and Development, Baotou, 014010, China

    Jianguo Zhi & Bin Lu

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  1. Yang Liu
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Correspondence to Jing Li.

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Liu, Y., Li, J., Geng, R. et al. Effect of Cerium Content on Precipitation Behavior of Inclusions in High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel. Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal. 11, 560–568 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13632-022-00861-y

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