Effect of Cerium Content on the Evolution of Inclusions and Formation of Acicular Ferrite in Ti-Mg-Killed EH36 Steel
Zhen Liu, Bo Song, Zhanbing Yang, Xiaokang Cui, Longfei Li, Lei Wang, Zirui Song
Abstract
Ce has been widely used in oxide metallurgy for modifying inclusions and refining microstructure. Effect of Ce contents on the evolution and characteristics of non-metallic inclusions and the formation of acicular ferrite (AF) in Ce-treated Ti-Mg-killed EH36 steel was investigated. The results showed that the main type of inclusions in Ti-Mg deoxidized steel was MgO·Al2O3-MnS. After 0.014%, 0.024% and 0.037% Ce were added into the steels, dominant inclusions became CeAlO3-MgO-MnS, Ce2O2S-MgO-MnS and Ce2O2S-MnS, respectively. The precipitation of pure MnS was suppressed in the steel with 0.024% Ce, while the number density of total inclusions increased significantly in the steel with 0.037% Ce, causing the inclusions distributing densely. Ce addition refined the microstructure of tested steels by promoting AF formation and polygonal ferrite distributing evenly. Dispersive distribution, low lattice mismatch against α-Fe, as well as lower number density of pure MnS caused the highest number density of effective inclusions (nucleus of AF formation) in 0.024% Ce-treated steel.