Characterization of nonmetallic inclusions in aluminium-deoxidized and titanium-denitrified low carbon steel using submicron SIMS

• Published in: BUNSEKI KAGAKU Vol. 45; no. 6; pp. 485 - 492
• Main Authors: TOMIYASU, Bunbunoshin, SHIBATA, Tatsuya, OWARI, Masanori, NIHEI, Yoshimasa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry 01.01.1996
• Subjects: cluster analysis; EPMA; generation process of nonmetallic inclusions; submicron SIMS
• ISSN: 0525-1931
• DOI: 10.2116/bunsekikagaku.45.485

Nonmetallic inclusions unfavorably influence the quality of steel but their origin and generation process are not yet understood. The development of methods for the characterization of each inclusion particle is required. By employing a gallium focused ion beam (Gat+-FIB) as the primary ion beam in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), particle analysis with high spatial resolution is easily achieved. We analyzed individual nonmetallic inclusion particles in Al-deoxidized and Ti-denitrified low carbon steel (Interstitial atom-Free steel: IF steel) by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and submicron SIMS. From the EPMA measurements followed by cluster analysis, the inclusion particles were classified into 3 clusters. We carried out shave-off analysis for the typical particle in each cluster. From the shave-off profile, the composition and inner elemental distribution were obtained. From these analyses, the generation process of nonmetallic inclusions in IF steel was clarified.