Evolution of plasticized MnO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-based nonmetallic inclusion in 18wt%Cr-8wt%Ni stainless steel and its properties during soaking process

Abstract

The properties of MnO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-based plasticized inclusion are likely to change during soaking process due to its low melting point. In this study, the evolution of the MnO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-based inclusion of 18wt%Cr-8wt%Ni stainless steel under isothermal soaking process at 1250°C for different times was investigated by laboratory-scale experiments and thermodynamic analysis. The results showed that the inclusion population density increased at the first stage and then decreased while their average size first decreased and then increased. In addition, almost no Cr₂O₃-concentrated regions existed within the inclusion before soaking, but more and more Cr₂O₃ precipitates were formed during soaking. Furthermore, the plasticity of the inclusion deteriorated due to a decrease in the amount of liquid phase and an increase in the high-melting-point-phase MnO-Cr₂O₃ spinel after the soaking process. In-situ observations by high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) confirmed that liquid phases were produced in the inclusions and the inclusions grew rather quickly during the soaking process. Both the experimental results and thermodynamic analysis conclude that there are three routes for inclusion evolution during the soaking process. In particular, Ostwald ripening plays an important role in the inclusion evolution, i.e., MnO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-based inclusions grow by absorbing the newly precipitated smaller-size MnO-Cr₂O₃ inclusions.

Keywords

nonmetallic inclusion / soaking process / Ostwald ripening / stainless steel

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