Agglomeration Force Exerted between Various Types of Solid-phase Oxides in Molten Steel

In this study, to elucidate the agglomeration mechanism of various inclusions in molten steel based on their interfacial chemical interactions, the agglomeration forces exerted between the solid-phase oxides of MgO, MgAl₂O₄, ZrO₂, SiO₂, and TiO₂ in molten steel, in addition to those between the reference material Al₂O₃ have been measured directly. We experimentally verified for the first time that the agglomeration force due to the cavity bridge force in molten steel acts in a relatively stable manner between all solid-phase oxides that are difficult to wet with molten steel. Furthermore, this force decreased with increasing O concentration in molten steel, which is attributed to the interfacial activation effect caused by the adsorption of oxygen at the interface between the oxides and molten steel. The agglomeration properties of various oxide inclusions in the deoxidized molten steel were further evaluated from the perspectives of both agglomeration force and thermodynamics. Quantitative analysis indicated easy agglomeration of oxide inclusions in the order MgO < TiO₂ < SiO₂ < MgAl₂O₄ < ZrO₂ < Al₂O₃. A comparative evaluation of the agglomeration and external forces acting on the oxide inclusions in molten steel suggests that any oxide inclusion in the deoxidized state forms cavity bridges and agglomerates and retains that state under intense molten steel flow. However, these agglomerated inclusions may separate again under a molten steel flow at a high O concentration. The extent of separation depends primarily on the type of oxide used.