Evolution of inclusions in Ce-containing particle-strengthened wear-resistant steel during the RH process

ZHANG Ke; LIU Zuoyu; WU Huajie; ZHANG Pengcheng; WU Huibin

doi:10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2026.02.019

Volume 47 Issue 2

Apr. 2026

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ZHANG Ke, LIU Zuoyu, WU Huajie, ZHANG Pengcheng, WU Huibin. Evolution of inclusions in Ce-containing particle-strengthened wear-resistant steel during the RH process[J]. IRON STEEL VANADIUM TITANIUM, 2026, 47(2): 172-179. doi: 10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2026.02.019

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ZHANG Ke, LIU Zuoyu, WU Huajie, ZHANG Pengcheng, WU Huibin. Evolution of inclusions in Ce-containing particle-strengthened wear-resistant steel during the RH process[J]. IRON STEEL VANADIUM TITANIUM, 2026, 47(2): 172-179. doi: 10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2026.02.019

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Evolution of inclusions in Ce-containing particle-strengthened wear-resistant steel during the RH process

doi: 10.7513/j.issn.1004-7638.2026.02.019

Collaborative Innovation Center of Steel Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

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Received Date: 2025-12-23
Accepted Date: 2026-02-09
Rev Recd Date: 2026-01-27

Available Online: 2026-04-29

Publish Date: 2026-04-29

Abstract

Abstract

Oxygen and nitrogen content analysis, chemical composition detection, and inclusion scanning were performed on sample taken during the RH refining process to investigate the evolution of inclusions in the steel. The results show that inclusions in steel can be categorized into four types: oxides, sulfides, Ce-containing oxides ang oxysulfides, and Ti(C_xN_y) along with its complex inclusions. Ti(C_xN_y) and its complex inclusions can be further divided into Ti(C_xN_y) and complex inclusions consisting of Ti(C_xN_y) with oxides, sulfides, or rare earth Ce inclusions. The size of inclusions in the samples is primarily in the range of 1 to 2 μm. The RH refining process has little effect on the number density and size distribution of various Ti-containing inclusions. However, it significantly removes oxide inclusions, reducing their number density from 73 particles/mm² before RH treatment to 8 particles/mm² after soft blowing. The precipitation of sulfides is low, and their number density remains basically unchanged. After Ce addition, Ce oxides, Ce oxysulfides, and Ti-Ce complex inclusions appear. Ce-containing inclusions act as dispersed nucleation sites for inclusions tend to form smaller complex inclusions. Ce also modifies the inclusions in steel, lowering the content of high-melting-point oxide inclusions.
- Ce-containing wear-resistant steel,
- Ti(C_xN_y),
- RH refining,
- size distribution

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References(22)

References

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