CLEAN STEELS

POSTED BY SATYENDRA ON NOV 29, 2013 IN ISPAT DIGEST | 0 COMMENTS

Clean Steels
There are various definitions of clean steel. The term clean steel is also vague. Clean steels are
generally those steels that have low levels of the solute elements sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen,
oxygen and hydrogen; controlled levels of the residual elements copper, lead, zinc, nickel, chromium,
bismuth, tin, antimony and magnesium; and, a low level of non metallic or oxide inclusions. The
requirements vary with the steel grade and its end use. Clean steels used for one application may be
often not acceptable for a different use. Steels with low levels of solutes are sometimes termed as
‘high purity steels’ while steels with low percentage of tramp elements are often called ‘low residual
steels’. Sometimes steels with a low frequency of product defects that can be related to the presence
of oxide inclusions are called clean steels. Hence the definition of ‘clean’ is not absolute. Instead it is
based upon the product formed from the casting and the in-service use or life of the product. In
addition, the definition ‘clean’ is comparative since the cleanliness standard desired by the customer
is continuously changing as a function of time and technological improvements. The term ‘clean steel’
is therefore continually variable depending upon the application.
Effect of solute elements on steels
The individual or combined effect of solute elements such as carbon (C), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S),
nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H) and total oxygen (T.O.) is known to have a remarkable influence on the
steel’s properties, such as tensile strength, formability, toughness, weldability, cracking resistance,
corrosion resistance, and fatigue resistance etc. The extent of control of the solute elements needed
in the steels depends on the performance expected from the steel. The influence of the solute
elements on the properties of steels is given in Tab 1. This table shows that some elements are
harmful for certain steels but may be less harmful or even useful to some other steel grades.
Tab1 Effect of solute elements on the properties

Element Form Mechanical properties affected

S, O Sulfide and oxide 1. Ductility, Charpy impact value, anisotropy
inclusions 2. Formability (elongation, reduction of area and bendability)
3. Cold forgeability, drawability
4. Low temperature toughness
5. Fatigue strength
C, N Solid solution 1.Solid solubility (enhanced), hardenability
Settled dislocation 1. Strain aging (enhanced), ductility and toughness (lowered)
Pearlite and 1. Dispersion (enhanced), ductility and toughness (lowered)
cementite
Carbide and nitride 1. Precipitation, grain refining (enhanced), toughness (enhanced)
precipitates 2. Embrittlement by intergranular precipitation
P Solid solution 1. Solid solubility (enhanced), hardenability (enhanced)
2. Temper brittleness
3. Separation, secondary work embrittlement
Inclusions and their effects on the steels
Inclusions are non metallic particles that are trapped in the matrix of steel. Non metallic inclusions are
undesirable components of steels. They play an important role with respect to their effect on the steel
properties. Exogenous inclusions are those that come from sources outside of the steel while the
Indigenous inclusions are those that are formed by the chemical reactions inside the liquid steel
during its processing. Among various types of nonmetallic inclusions, oxide and sulphide inclusions
have been thought to be harmful for common steels. Non metallic inclusions in steel usually have a
negative contribution to the mechanical properties of steel, since they can initiate ductile and brittle
facture.
A control of non metallic oxide inclusions and controlling their size distribution, morphology and
composition is needed during the production of clean steels since the cleanliness of steel depends on
these factors. Control of inclusions in steel is closely connected with the concept of ‘clean steel’. The
aim during steel production is to eliminate undesirable inclusions and control the nature and
distribution of the remainder to optimize the properties of the final steel product.
All steels contain non metallic inclusions to a greater or lesser extent. The type and appearance of
these non metallic inclusions depends on factors such as grade of steel, melting process, secondary
metallurgy treatments and casting of steel. The presence of non-metallic oxide inclusions is a major
cause of incompatibility between the attainable and desirable level of cleanliness in many grades of
steel. These non metallic inclusions degrade the mechanical properties of the steel and are the cause
of dangerous and serious material defects such as brittleness and a wide variety of crack formations.
They increase the risk for mechanical and/or corrosion failure of the final product. However, some of
these inclusions can also have a beneficial effect on steels properties by nucleating acicular ferrite
during the austenite to ferrite phase transformation especially in low carbon steels. Various types of
inclusions in steels are shown in Fig. 1.

Fig 1 Types of inclusions in steels

The inclusions generate many defects while many applications restrict the maximum size of
inclusions. Hence the size distribution of inclusions is important in the steel. The requirement of
cleanliness of for various steels is given in Tab. 2.
Tab 2 Requirement of cleanliness for various steels

Steel product Maximum allowed impurity fraction Maximum allowed

inclusion size
IF steels [C]?30 ppm, [N]?40 ppm, T.O.?40 ppm
[C]?10 ppm, [N]?50 ppm
Automotive and deep- [C]?30 ppm, [N]?30 ppm 100 µm
drawing Sheets
Drawn and Ironed cans [C]?30 ppm, [N]?40 ppm, T.O.?20 ppm 20 µm
Alloy steel for Pressure [P]?70 ppm
vessels
Alloy steel bars [H]?2 ppm, [N]?20 ppm, T.O.?10 ppm
HIC resistant steel sour [P]?50 ppm, [S] ?10 ppm
gas tubes
Line pipes [S]?30 ppm, [N]?50 ppm, T.O.?30 ppm 100 µm
Sheets for continuous [N]?20 ppm
annealing
Plates for welding [H]?1.5 ppm
Bearings T.O.?10 ppm 15 µm
Tire cord [H]?2 ppm, [N]?40 ppm, T.O.?15 ppm 10 µm
Non-grain-orientated [N]?30 ppm
Magnetic Sheets
Heavy plate steels [H]?2 ppm, [N]=30-40 ppm, T.O.?20 ppm Single inclusion 13 µm
Cluster 200 µm
Wires [N]?60 ppm, T.O.?30 ppm 20 µm

Control of non metallic inclusions during steel production

The increasing demand in recent years for high quality steels has led to the continuous improvement
of steelmaking practices. There is a special interest in the control of non metallic inclusions due to
their harmful effect on the subsequent stages and their great influence on the properties of the final
steel product. The quality of the final product is controlled through the control of the amount, size and
chemical composition of the inclusions. The control of the formation of non-metallic inclusions and the
identification of their constituent phases are of extreme importance for the obtaining of clean steels.
The cleanliness in steel is achieved through a wide range operating practices which include the
additions of deoxidizing agents and ferro alloys, the extent and sequence of secondary metallurgy
treatments, stirring and transfer operations, shrouding systems, tundish geometry and practices, the
absorption capacity of the various metallurgical fluxes, and casting practices etc.