In-Suit Observation of the Formation of CeAlO3 Clusters on the Surface of an Al-Killed Molten Steel

The aggregationAggregation of CeAlO3 inclusionsCeAlO3 inclusions on the surface of an AlAl-killed molten steelSteel was observed under argon purging using a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The steelSteel contained 32 ppm total oxygen, 13 ppm sulfur, 70 ppm aluminumAluminum, and 70 ppm cerium and stable inclusionsInclusions were CeAlO3. The aggregationAggregation occurred when the distance between CeAlO3 inclusionsCeAlO3 inclusions was less than 160 μm. The smaller inclusionInclusions had a shorter critical aggregationAggregation distance. Within 20 min, single inclusionInclusions particles with an initial size of 2.3 μm were aggregated into 200 μm ones. The attractive force between CeAlO3 inclusionsCeAlO3 inclusions increased with the increase of the diameter of inclusionsInclusions. The attractive force between 5 μm inclusionsInclusions ranged 10–17 N to 10–15 N.