Steel inclusion prediction in ladle treatment

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It is proposed to develop and validate a kinetic model for inclusion transformation (both magnesium aluminate spinels and calcium aluminates) in steels during the critical ladle refining stage of production. This work builds on previous work in which a kinetic model for metal and slag composition in steel ladles was developed and verified for a production scale steel ladle metallurgy treatment station. The mathematical model is based on transport-controlled diffusion of Al, Mg, O, S, and Ca in the steel and assumes equilibrium at the inclusion-metal interface. Equilibrium at the interface is calculated with a cell model adapted from previously used slag thermochemical calculations. Collaborative experiments in the form of production trials will be conducted in the ladle metallurgy facilities of ArcelorMittal. Samples of metal, slag and inclusions in the steel will be taken for validation of the model. Electron microscopy will be used to compare the compositions with the calculations. Ladle metallurgy is the last opportunity to control the steel and inclusion chemistry before casting, so it is vital to the production of high quality steel. Currently, there are no models that predict the kinetics of slag, metal and inclusion chemistry development throughout a ladle metallurgy heat. This is expected to be of immediate use to Canadian steel producers to produce high-quality steel that competes on a global basis.