Effect of calcium treatment on non-metallic inclusions in ultra-low oxygen steel refined by high basicity high Al2O3 slag

The influence of calcium treatment on non-metallic inclusions had been studied when control technology of refining top slag in ladle furnace was used in ultra-low oxygen steelmaking. A sufficient amount aluminium was added to experimental heats for final deoxidizing during BOF tapping, and the refining top slag with strong reducibility, high basicity and high Al2O3 in ladle furnace was used to produce ultra-low oxygen steel and the transformation of non-metallic inclusions in molten steel was compared by calcium treatment and no calcium treatment. The results show that the transformation of Al2O3→MgO • Al2O3 spinel→CaO-MgO-Al2O3 complex inclusions has been completed for aluminum deoxidation products and calcium treatment to molten steel is unnecessary when using the control technology of ladle furnace refining top slag to produce ultra-low oxygen steel, and the complex inclusions are liquid at the temperature of steelmaking and easily removable to obtain very high cleanliness steel by flotation. Furthermore, the problems of nozzle clogging in casting operations do not happen and the remaining oxide inclusions in steel are the relatively lower melting point complex inclusions. © 2011 Central Iron and Steel Research Institute.