Inclusions in steel plates and mechanical anisotropy

Abstract

The work conducted at IRSI D on a large number of fully killed steels has confirmed the importance of the inclusion system with respect to short-transverse ductility and transverse impact properties. Concerning through-thickness ductility, as assessed by tensile testing, a very good correlation wasfound between reduction of area and the projected inclusion length. Transverse impact properties were alsofound to be dependent to some extent upon the same parameter but no satisfactory correlation wasfound. This is discussed in terms of matrix inclusion interactions. Practical methods of inclusion shape control are reviewed and illustrated. The temperature dependence of inclusion elongation is examined and rare-earth (cerium) effects, with respect to inclusion composition and geometry, are described.