Evaluation of the Iron Content in Non-Metallic Inclusions in Steel for (Sub)microscopic Steel Cleanness Description

Increasing customer demands for higher steel quality will require improved (sub-)micro cleanness descriptions in the near future. Due to the challenging analysis of matrix elements in non-metallic inclusions, the iron content of particles was often neglected in chemical evaluations up until now. Starting to close this gap of information, a systematic approach was developed, including statistic particle prediction, sample production on laboratory scale and subsequent analysis evaluating the iron content in particles (<1 µm) by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy measurements. This enables a detailed (sub-)micro cleanness description for steels ensuring the determination of correct compositions and an improved understanding of particle morphology for smallest sizes.