Effect of steel-refractory reactions on inclusion modification in lanthanum-, cerium-, and yttrium-added steels

The reactions of rare earth elements (REEs) with refractory materials significantly affect their effective concentrations and inclusion modifications in molten steel. This study investigated the influence of steel-refractory reactions on the modification of inclusions in lanthanum-, cerium-, and yttrium-added steels utilizing three types of commonly used crucibles as smelting vessels. Steel-refractory reactions were found to strongly affect inclusions with different outcomes for smelting in MgO, Al2O3, and MgO·Al2O3 crucibles. The RE-crucible reactions affected the evolution and size of inclusions in molten steel by influencing the content of [Mg] and [Al]. The RE-MgO crucible reactions increased [Mg] content, leading to more MgO inclusions and a smaller average size. The RE-Al2O3 crucible reactions increased [Al] content, resulting in more REAlO3 inclusions and a bigger average size. The reactions of La, Ce, and Y with MgO·Al2O3 crucibles had varying effects on the evolution of inclusions. La and Ce selectively eroded the crucible, mostly reacting with the Al2O3 component and generating REAlO3 inclusions. In contrast, the slow reaction rate of Y with the crucible and the formation of the dense Y2O3 layer at the steel/crucible interface made it react almost simultaneously with both MgO and Al2O3 components, and the modification of inclusions was dominated by [Mg] rather than [Al]. The above conclusions provided more information on how the reactions between rare earth elements and refractory materials affected inclusions in rare earth steels during smelting. They also enriched the theory of inclusion control in steel and offered new controlling strategies.