Distribution of Arsenic Inclusions in Rare Earth Steel Ingots

• Main Authors: Hongpo Wang, Silu Jiang, Peng Yu, Bin Bai, Lifeng Sun, Yu Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: Metals
• Subjects: rare earth; inclusion; distribution; trace element; arsenic
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/10/1/146

Trace element arsenic is detrimental to the quality and properties of steel products. We used lanthanum to modify the distribution of arsenic by the formation of arsenic rare earth inclusions and investigated all inclusions on the full profile of the ingots prepared in the laboratory. The results show that the addition of lanthanum has dramatically influenced the distribution of arsenic in the ingots by the formation of arsenic inclusions. The arsenic inclusions turn out to be mainly the cluster-shaped La-S-As, as well as its composite inclusions combined with LaS and La-As. La-S-As can be considered a solid solution of LaS and LaAs. They distribute mainly at the top surface of the ingots within 3 mm, at the side and bottom surfaces within 1.5 mm, leading to a dramatic decrease of arsenic concentration at the inner part of the ingots. This distribution characteristic of La-S-As can be used to manufacture steel ingots with very low arsenic concentration by peeling off these (La-S-As)-containing layers. On the contrary, the distribution of composite inclusions (La-S-As)-(La-As) and single-phase La-As, is uniform. Except for the reaction with arsenic, lanthanum can also react with phosphorous and antimony to modify the existing state of these trace elements.