TY - GEN

T1 - Characterization of Rare-Earth-Elements-Traced Non-Metallic Inclusions by Different Methods

AU - Thiele, Kathrin

AU - Ilie, Sergiu

AU - Rössler, Roman

AU - Michelic, Susanne Katharina

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - The addition of rare earth elements (REE) to the melt is one option to trace non-metallic inclusions (NMI) over the steelmakingprocess. For cleanness characterization, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) is thepredominant method used to determine traced NMIs. Since rare earth elements appear brighter than the steel matrix in theimage of the backscatter electron detector, the analyzing and evaluation process has to be improved. Two greyscales for theautomated SEM/EDS measurement are applied; evaluation of traced NMIs is performed by a self-developed Matlab tool.Furthermore, different extraction techniques are used to investigate the detailed morphology of NMIs. Additionally, theextracted NMIs on the filter residue are analyzed by manual and automated SEM/EDS measurements, demonstrating nodissolution of REE-traced NMI parts during the extraction and filtration process. Finally, the significance and the potential ofautomated SEM/EDS measurements of extracted inclusions on a filter are assessed.

AB - The addition of rare earth elements (REE) to the melt is one option to trace non-metallic inclusions (NMI) over the steelmakingprocess. For cleanness characterization, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) is thepredominant method used to determine traced NMIs. Since rare earth elements appear brighter than the steel matrix in theimage of the backscatter electron detector, the analyzing and evaluation process has to be improved. Two greyscales for theautomated SEM/EDS measurement are applied; evaluation of traced NMIs is performed by a self-developed Matlab tool.Furthermore, different extraction techniques are used to investigate the detailed morphology of NMIs. Additionally, theextracted NMIs on the filter residue are analyzed by manual and automated SEM/EDS measurements, demonstrating nodissolution of REE-traced NMI parts during the extraction and filtration process. Finally, the significance and the potential ofautomated SEM/EDS measurements of extracted inclusions on a filter are assessed.

KW - Characterization

KW - Non-metallic Inclusion

KW - Rare Earth Elements

KW - tracer

KW - SEM/EDS analysis

KW - chemical extraction

U2 - 10.33313/531/009

DO - 10.33313/531/009

M3 - Conference contribution

SP - 80

EP - 87

BT - Proceedings ICS 2022, 8th International Congress on Science and Technology of Steelmaking

T2 - 8th International Congress on the Science and Technology of Steelmaking (ICS)

Y2 - 2 August 2022 through 4 August 2022

ER -