Effect of Al2O3 in Refining Slag on the Cleanliness and Fatigue Property of Ultra-low-carbon Automotive Steel

Abstract The influence of Al2O3 content in refining slag on the cleanliness and fatigue property of ultra-low-carbon (ULC) automotive steel were investigated based on the industrial experiments. The inclusion-adsorption capacity of the refining slag was calculated and the total [O] (T.O) content of ULC automotive steel was measured. The number density, size distribution and morphology of inclusions were analyzed and their effects on the cleanliness and fatigue property of ultra-low-carbon (ULC) automotive steel were investigated. The results showed that as the Al2O3 content in refining slag increased from 19.92% to 39.73%, the inclusion-adsorption capacity of ULC automotive steel decreased from 210.30 down to 57.12, and the fatigue life from 1.4x104 down to 0.9x104 cycles, while the T.O content of steel increased from 12 up to18 ppm and the inclusion number density from 4 up to 9 per mm2.