Liquid Inclusion Collision and Agglomeration in Calcium-Treated Aluminum-Killed Steel

This work addresses conflicting results in the literature regarding liquid inclusion agglomeration. To assess whether calcium aluminates do agglomerate steel, laboratory experiments were performed: melting electrolytic iron, deoxidizing melt with aluminum and subsequently treating deoxidation products (alumina magnesia-alumina spinel inclusions). Under conditions, solid spinels alumina inclusions successfully modified, producing a new population of much smaller aluminate inclusions. The forms because presence steel destabilizes MgO-alumina inclusions, which then dissolve into melt. exhibited weak but statistically significant tendency to agglomerate. Laboratory assessed light different collision mechanisms. Agglomeration mainly occurs by Stokes laminar fluid flow when no external stirring is imposed. Monte Carlo simulations collisions agree reasonably well experimental results. For industrial where agitated argon bubbling and/or electromagnetic stirring, turbulent dominate.