Three-dimensional investigations of inclusions in ferroalloys

• As the requirements on material properties increase, there has been a demand on an additional knowledge on the effect of impurities in the ferroalloys on the properties. Thus, the number, morphology, size, and composition of inclusions in four different ferroalloys (FeTi, FeNb, FeSi, and SiMn) were investigated. This was done in three dimensions (3D) by using scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive spectroscopy after electrolytic extraction of the ferroalloy samples. The non-metallic and metallic inclusions were successfully analyzed on the surface of film filter. Thereafter, the particle size distribution was plotted for most of the non-metallic inclusions. The non-metallic inclusions were found to be REM oxides in FeTi, FeSi, and SiMn, Al2O3, Ti-Nb-S-O oxides in FeNb and silicon oxides in SiMn. Moreover, the intermetallic inclusions were found to be a Ti-Fe phase in FeTi, Ca-Si, and Fe-Si-Ti phases in FeSi and a Mn-Si phase in SiMn. In addition, the almost pure single metallic phases were found to be Ti in FeTi, Nb in FeNb, and Si in FeSi. As the requirements on material properties increase, the effect of impurities in ferroalloys on the steelmaking process is increasingly becoming more important. The characteristic of inclusions (morphology, number, size, and composition) in ferroalloys investigated in three-dimensional after electrolytic extraction is a good method for studying the evolution of inclusions during steelmaking.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Metallurgi och metalliska material (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Metallurgy and Metallic Materials (hsv//eng)

Keyword

electrolytic extraction

ferroalloy

non-metallic and metallic inclusions

three-dimensional investigations

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)