Effects of the rare earth Ce addition method and quantity on the modification of Al-containing inclusions in Q355C steel

Abstract

This paper investigated the influence of the addition method and quantity of rare earth Ce on the modification of Al-containing inclusions in Q355C steel. When the rare earth Ce element was added in the forms of an Al–Ce alloy and a Ce–Fe alloy, respectively, the Al₂O₃ inclusions were both modified into Ce-containing composite inclusions with blunt shapes. When added in the form of an Al–Ce alloy, the average size of the inclusions was 1.93 μm, smaller than 2.87 μm when added in the form of a Ce–Fe alloy, indicating that the modification effect of the Al–Ce alloy was better than that of the Ce–Fe alloy. When the rare earth Ce was added in the form of an Al–Ce alloy with a content of 58 ppm, the modification effect was the best.