Analysis of impurity spaces as a percentage volume of non-metallic inclusions

The parameters of high-grade steel are influenced by a combination of factors, including chemical composition and production technology. The impurity content is also a key determinant of the quality of high-grade steel. Non-metallic inclusions are one of the factors that influence the properties, in particular fatigue strength of steel. The physical and chemical reactions that occur in the process of steel melting and solidification produce non-metallic compounds and phases, referred to as inclusions. The quantity of non-metallic inclusions is correlated with the content of dopants in the alloy, while their phase composition and structure, in particular shape, dimensions and dispersion, impurity spaces are determined by the course of metallurgical processes. The experimental material consisted of semi-finished products of medium-carbon structural steel. The production process involved three melting technologies: steel melting in a basic arc furnace with: desulfurization or desulfurization and argon refining and in an oxygen converter and next subjected to vacuum circulation degassing. Billet samples were collected to analyze the content of non-metallic inclusions with the use of an optical microscope and a video inspection microscope. The application of various heat treatment parameters led to the formation of different microstructures responsible for steel hardness values. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of percentage volume non-metallic inclusions on impurity spaces.