Inclusion Shape Control and its Effects on the Impact Property of the API X42 Steel

In recent years many different ways have been investigated by steel producers to increase ductility, impact strength and formability of steels. More important ways are steels with very low amounts of inclusion, small size inclusions and modified inclusions. In this study, experiments have been performed on the API-X42 steel produced by the electric arc furnace in Mobarekeh Steel Co. After the preparation of the melt in the electric arc furnace, it is taped in a 200-ton ladle and ladle treatment was preformed in a ladle furnace (LF) in the steelmaking shop. In this study the effects of amount and the rate of CaSi wire addition on the shape and structure of inclusion were investigated. The optimum conditions for adding CaSi for inclusion shape control were also determined. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and chemical energy analysis dispersive system (EDS) showed that adding calcium to the melt affects the chemical composition of inclusions present in steel melt. The effects of CaSi wire injection treatment, injection amount and inclusion shape control on the impact property and formability of steel were shown using charpy impact test.

Keywords: Inclusion shape control, calcium treatment, ladle furnace and inclusion modification