Influence of rare-earth modification on the formation of nonmetallic inclusions in high-carbon steel

The content of nonmetallic inclusions when rail and wheel steel is produced by intensive modern technology and modified by rare-earth metals is analyzed. The composition, morphology, dimensions, and distribution of the inclusions in the steel are determined in the case without oxidation by aluminum or treatment by silicocalcium and also with treatment of aluminum-bearing steel by both rare-earth metals and silicocalcium. Modification with rare-earth metals reduces the content of oxide inclusions in the rail and wheel steel. That improves the plasticity and impact strength of the products.     

Analysis of various versions of the deoxidation of rail steel at OAO NTMK

The deoxidation of steel melted using various types of deoxidizers during out-of-furnace treatment is studied. The total oxygen and nitrogen content and the oxygen contents in the main types of oxide nonmetallic inclusions are determined by fractional gas analysis of steel samples taken from heats performed by various schedules. The main types of nonmetallic inclusions and their size distributions are found with qualitative and quantitative metallography. The oxygen content in the rail steel is minimal (5 ppm) when calcium carbide CaC₂ is introduced into the metal in tapping of a converter. When the metal is deoxidized using a steel wire filled with calcium or a steel wire filled with silicocalcium, the oxygen content in rail steel is ≈8 and ≈11 ppm, respectively. A comparison of various processes of rail steel deoxidation under the OAO NTMK conditions shows that the limitation of the aluminum content (no more than 30 ppm) or the use of a wire with a calcium or calcium carbide filler is more effective than the use of a wire filled with silicocalcium.     

Improving the reduction and ladle treatment of Electrosteel for rail production

Research in the electrosmelting shop at OAO EVRAZ ZSMK indicates that, if inert gas is injected into molten rail steel in the ladle for 122 min, rather than 63 min, the quantity of nonmetallic oxide inclusions may be reduced, without impairing overall rail quality. Industrial experiments show that replacing MnS18 silicomanganese with FeMnSi30HP silicomanganese in the reduction of rail steel is economically effective in the electrosmelting shop at OAO EVRAZ ZSMK. The assimilation of carbon and silicon is increased by 4 and 13%, respectively. The mechanical properties and macrostructure of rails obtained by this experimental technology match those of the steel currently produced. According to the calculation results, the use of FeMnSi30HP ferroalloy provides savings of 13.99 and 32.64 rub/t for rails of category T1 and NE, respectively.     

Production of superpearlitic rail

Means of extending rail life are considered: optimizing the chemical composition of the steel; eliminating nonmetallic inclusions by vacuum treatment; reduction and modification of the steel; and optimization of heat treatment to attain the required required linearity, hardness, and mechanical properties.     

Improving the reliability of welded joints in bulk-quenched electrosteel rail

Metallurgical methods of improving the reliability of the weld seam in bulk-quenched electrosteel rail are considered: optimization of the chemical composition in terms of the basic elements and total impurity content; improvement in plastic properties of the rail by reducing the hardness; and removal of nonmetallic inclusions from the steel. Instability is seen in the weldability of the rails and also in the composition, with the same set of mechanical properties. The need for improvement in welding technology is shown; without the elimination of existing problems, the weldability of electrosteel rail cannot be guaranteed.     

Optimizing the production of steel with reduction by aluminum,in casting and rolling systems

Data on the metallurgical defects in pipe show that they may be due to nonmetallic oxide inclusions. Analysis of the formation of oxide inclusions from smelting to the continuous casting of steel shows that, in order to reduce the incidence of such defects, additional measures must be taken in the smelting and ladle treatment of the steel. Such measures reduce the content of oxide inclusions in the steel by half. The benefits of this approach are confirmed by the reduced rejection rate of the pipe on account of defects associated with the presence of nonmetallic inclusions.     

Possibilities of improving the quality of rail steel

An experimental process of production of degassed rail steel is briefly described: it ensures low contents of oxygen, hydrogen, and brittle nonmetallic inclusions in the metal and the required metal quality.     

Operation of imported rail on the East Siberian Railroad

Japanese R65 rail is metallographically analyzed after operation in the East Siberian Railroad. Its chemical composition complies with Technical Specifications TU 0921-239-01124323–2007 for the steel used in the production of 350LDT rail. The macrostructure of the metal is of satisfactory quality. The tensile mechanical properties, hardness, and impact strength at +20°C determined on samples from the nonoperational chamfer of the rail head are consistent with Technical Specifications TU 0921-239-01124323–2007 for the steel used in the production of 350LDT rail. The impact strength at negative temperatures does meet the corresponding requirements. The content of nonmetallic inclusions is low. However, exogenous inclusions are present at unacceptable levels. The microstructure of the Japanese rail sample consists of sorbite and plate pearlite, whose dispersity declines on moving away from the surface. In operation of the rail, thin inclined cracks (depth 1.1 mm) form at the surface of the working chamfer in the rail head; in addition, lateral wear is considerable (up to 15 mm).     

Э90AΦ steel rail

At OAO Novokuznetskii Metallurgicheskii Kombinat, R65K rail is produced from э90AΦ steel with an elevated carbon content and microadditions of vanadium and nitrogen, so as to increase the wear resistance. Such rail is characterized by satisfactory quality in terms of nonmetallic inclusions, macrostructure and microstructure, mechanical properties, hardness, pile-driver strength, and residual stress.     

用酸溶法研究钢中超细氧化物夹杂的三维形貌

 钢中超细氧化物夹杂对提高钢材性能有重大意义。介绍了用稀盐酸溶解铁基体后，利用配有特殊滤膜的专用溶剂过滤器，将钢中某些非金属夹杂物与溶液分离的方法。利用带有EDS(Energy Dispersive Spectrometer)的扫描电镜(SEM)对夹杂物形貌进行了观察。结果表明，该方法可以把耐酸的超细氧化物夹杂从钢基体中提取出来，同时可以得到夹杂物的三维形貌、尺寸、化学成分等详细信息，是一种研究钢中超细氧化物夹杂的有效方法。     

Influence of nonmetallic inclusions in rail steel on the high-temperature plasticity

The influence of nonmetallic inclusions in Э76Ф rail steel on the high-temperature plasticity is considered. In terms of the shear strain, a plasticity maximum is observed in all three zones of the continuouscast billet: the crust, the columnar-crystal zone, and the central zone of the billet. The high-temperature torsion of samples heated to 950–1250°C with 10-min holding is studied for continuous-cast billet of electrosmelted rail steel. Oxides and silicates are present in the crust; oxides and oxysilicates are found in the columnar-crystal zone; and sulfides, oxides, silicates, and alumosilicates are found in the central zone of the billet. The concentration of inclusions that impair the plasticity is greatest in the central zone of the billet.     

钢中液态夹杂物聚并行为的数学物理模拟

基于相似原理,采用水模拟钢液,用有机试剂模拟钢液中液态非金属夹杂物,同时采用数值仿真方法共同研究了夹杂物种类、两相间界面张力及黏度对于液滴聚并过程的影响规律.结果表明,夹杂物液滴间的聚合趋势与其自身的物理性质有紧密联系,其中液滴相与连续相之间的界面张力会促进其相互聚并,而液滴相的黏度则正相反,在液滴聚并过程中起抑制作用.因此,通过改变液态夹杂物与高温钢液之间的界面参数以及黏度参数,有望达到聚合或分散的控制目标,进而实现夹杂物尺寸的灵活控制.      

合成渣精炼法控制帘线钢中的非金属夹杂物

主要论述了帘线钢中非金属夹杂物的控制方法.根据帘线钢对非金属夹杂物的要求和夹杂物对帘线钢性能的影响,利用CaO-SiO2-A12O3三元相图确定合成精炼渣的成分,优化设计帘线钢的冶炼工艺,使钢中夹杂物的尺寸变小,满足了帘线钢性能的要求.     

钙处理对20CrMnTiH齿轮钢中非金属夹杂物的影响

铝脱氧齿轮钢中易生成大量的高熔点Al₂O₃类夹杂物,容易导致水口结瘤及钢材性能恶化,目前较常采用钙处理将钢中高熔点的Al₂O₃类夹杂物改性为低熔点的钙铝酸盐类夹杂物。合理的钙处理可以减轻水口结瘤并提高连铸过程钢液的可浇性,工业试验研究了喂钙前钢液中T.Ca含量、喂钙速度、喂钙量、净空高度及渣厚等参数对齿轮钢中钙收得率的影响,并在1.5 m·s?1的喂钙速度条件下研究了不同喂钙量对钙处理过程中齿轮钢中非金属夹杂物改性的影响。研究结果表明,当喂钙前钢液中T.Ca的质量分数小于10×10?6,喂钙速度为1.5 m·s?1,适当降低喂钙量和净空高度和渣厚,钢液中钙收得率均高于20%。当钢液中T.Ca的质量分数高于17×10?6时,钢中生成大量高熔点CaS型夹杂物,三元相图中夹杂物的平均质量分数远离液相区。随着齿轮钢中T.Ca含量的增加,夹杂物的平均尺寸和数密度逐渐增加。热力学计算结果与工业试验钙处理对钢中非金属夹杂物改性效果具有较好的一致性。      

Nonmetallic inclusions in vacuum-treated austenitic stainless steel

The nonmetallic phase in 08X18H10T and 03X18H10 vacuum-treated austenitic stainless steel is investigated by means of a scanning electron microscope. The composition of the nonmetallic inclusions in cast samples of metal from the casting ladle, the vacuum unit, and the continuous-casting machine and samples of cold-rolled sheet (thickness 1.2 mm) is studied. In 08X18H10T steel samples from the tundish of the continuous-casting machine, the nonmetallic phase consists mainly of titanium-nitride aggregations, the crystals of which contain oxides of aluminum and titanium; a few of the nonmetallic inclusions are small globules with a titanium-oxide shell. In cold-rolled sheet, the nonmetallic inclusions are distributed over the whole cross section and consist of small (5–6 μm) crystals of titanium nitrides. Cast samples of 03X18H10 austenitic titanium-free steel are relatively free of nonmetallic inclusions. The nonmetallic phase consists mainly of small inclusions of alumocalcium silicate. In cold-rolled sheet (thickness 1.2 mm), the nonmetallic phase consists of a few very small globules (2–3 μm). The results are compared with the composition of the nonmetallic phase in analogous steel with no vacuum treatment.     

Effect of liquid–solid pouring on the as-cast structure and the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions in a 24.2-t steel 38KhN3MFA ingot

The primary dendrite structure and the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions in large-scale 24.2-t forging ingots of 38KhN3MFA steel cast by a standard technology and with the inoculation of a metallic stream are studied. The dendrite parameter in the inoculated ingot is found to be significantly smaller than that in the usual ingot. Therefore, the solidification process in the inoculated ingot should be faster than that in the usual ingot. This is confirmed by a more homogeneous dendrite structure of the inoculated ingot. The estimation of contamination with nonmetallic inclusions shows that nonmetallic inclusions in the ingots under comparison are of the same type, and among them are oxides, sulfides and oxysulfides. The study of the distribution of nonmetallic inclusions shows that the ingots to be compared are mainly contaminated with oxysulfide nonmetallic inclusions, and the contents of oxide and sulfide nonmetallic inclusions are minimal. The experimental ingot has lower total contamination with nonmetallic inclusions than that of the reference ingot. In this case, the inoculators having formed from a metallic melt stream do not favor an increase in the contamination of steel with nonmetallic (among them are oxide) inclusions. The study of the structure of large metal volumes shows that the inoculation of the stream is accompanied by an increase in the number of metallic droplets, which transform into solid particles in flight and increase the solidification rate when reach a solidifying ingot. This process suppresses the development of segregation phenomena in the cast metal and decreases the chemical and physical heterogeneities.     

帘线钢凝固过程夹杂物生成热力学及工业实践

 非金属夹杂物是影响帘线钢拉拔性能的重要因素之一,为了研究帘线钢中夹杂物的生成及转变机理,使用ASPEX自动扫描电镜观察分析了帘线钢工业生产过程中不同碱度条件下从钢液到铸坯中非金属夹杂物的转变现象,并使用FactSage7.0热力学计算软件对非金属夹杂物的转变机理进行了讨论。在高碱度条件下,钢液中非金属夹杂物主要类型为低熔点的CaO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-MnO,铸坯中非金属夹杂物的CaO和MnO含量有所降低,同时SiO₂含量有所增加。在低碱度炉次中,钢液中非金属夹杂物主要为较高熔点的SiO₂-MnO-CaO类型,Al₂O₃含量较低。连铸坯中非金属夹杂物的SiO₂含量与钢液相比有所增加,同时MnO含量降低。热力学计算结果表明,帘线钢凝固和冷却过程中的非金属夹杂物转变由夹杂物自身的相转变和析出、非金属夹杂物和钢液间的化学反应以及溶解氧和钢基体化学成分的反应3方面原因造成。热力学计算结果较好地解释了帘线钢工业生产中钢液和铸坯中非金属夹杂物成分和形貌的转变,为帘线钢中非金属夹杂物的控制提供参考。     

Modern trends in the development of ladle metallurgy and the problem of nonmetallic inclusions in steel

The main trends in the development of the ladle treatment of steel have been analyzed. The most complex problem is shown to be the formation of nonmetallic inclusions having a certain type and a low concentration. The main parameters of the ladle treatment of steel that control the type and amount of nonmentallic inclusions in ready products are analyzed using the data of industrial heats, laboratory experiments, and physicochemical simulation and computation. The principles of control of steel purity in nonmetallic inclusions are formulated, and the main trends in the development of the concepts of nonmetallic inclusions are determined.     

连铸过程中夹杂物去除数值模拟研究现状

摘要：随着钢材质量要求的提高,连铸过程中夹杂物的控制已经成为了钢铁企业的重要课题。受限于现实条件及连铸过程的复杂性,数值模拟技术成为了研究连铸过程夹杂物行为的重要手段之一。结合数值模拟研究现状介绍了中间包内电磁技术、流动控制元件和底吹氩技术对夹杂物上浮去除的积极作用,发现夹杂物性质及非等温条件对夹杂物行为的影响还较少被研究;探讨了优化浸入式水口（SEN）和合理应用电磁技术对结晶器内夹杂物去除的重要影响,当前结晶器内的夹杂物模拟研究正在向微观层面进行过渡。连铸过程中夹杂物行为的数值模拟研究随着计算机技术的发展和数学模型的完善也在不断进步。     

On the Capability of Nonmetallic Inclusions to Act as Nuclei for Acicular Ferrite in Different Steel Grades

Acicular ferrite nucleates intragranularly on nonmetallic inclusions, forming a microstructure with excellent fracture toughness. The formation of acicular ferrite is strongly affected by the size, content, and composition of nonmetallic inclusions, but also by the composition of the steel matrix. The potential of inclusions in medium carbon HSLA (high-strength low-alloyed) steels has been the main focus in the literature so far. The current study evaluates the acicular ferrite capability of various inclusions types in four different steel grades with carbon contents varying between 0.04 and 0.65 wt pct. The investigated steels are produced by melting experiments on a laboratory scale and subsequent heat treatment in a High-Temperature Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. Inclusions are exclusively formed by deoxidation and desulfurization reactions. No synthetic particles are added to the melt. The inclusion landscape is analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Final ductility of the samples is evaluated based on performed tensile tests. Inclusion types in every steel grade are assessed regarding their nucleation potential always considering the interaction with the steel composition, especially focusing on the role of manganese. The effects of (Ti,Al)O_x-, MnS-, and MgO-containing inclusions are discussed in detail.