Inclusion Evolution and Removal in Ladle Refining

The production of steels with low total oxygen content and preferred oxide morphologies requires effective inclusion removal during ladle treatment after deoxidation and control of the evolution of the inclusion population during ladle processing and steel transport. As demands for increased steel cleanliness continue to grow, ongoing research on the behavior of inclusion populations in the ladle during ladle treatment has continued to advance our understanding of the ladle treatment process. This paper provides an introductory overview of inclusion behavior in the ladle along with a review of the some of the ongoing research in the area of ladle treatment and the factors that influence the evolution and removal of inclusions