Study of parameters affecting the formation of inclusions and process evaluation for manufacturing plastic mould steel

This thesis has been performed at Uddeholms AB with the purpose to investigate theparameters affecting the formation of inclusions during the manufacturing of a low carbonmanganese-steel.A follow-up, steel and slag sampling and evaluations in microscope have been done for a totalof five heats.The results for each heat have been evaluated in relation to the theory from the literaturesurvey and suggestions for changes in the process to reduce the amount of inclusions whichhave a negative effect on the steel quality have been given.The project extends over a large process where many parameters affect the formation ofinclusions. However, a tendency that a higher addition of alloys seems to increase the totalamount of inclusions before and after the vacuum degassing is seen.The majority of the studied inclusions seem to approach the composition of the top slag aftervacuum degassing. Ladle glaze may cause the inclusions which had a different compositioncompared to that of the slag.A high or low ladleage together with a high argon flow during vacuum degassing seems todissolve particles from the refractory which later on get trapped inside the inclusions.The floatation for two heats has been studied where a short floatation seems to give a higheramount of inclusions in casted material.In machined material so called stringers were found. The main composition of those stringerswas pure alumina. Inclusions with a composition of pure alumina were not found in the liquidsteel, thus the pure alumina inclusions must be formed during the casting. The reason whythose pure alumina inclusions are formed remains for further investigations