Improving production technology of tube steel grades in converter process

Nature of formation and evolution special features of nonmetallic inclusions during ladle refining of converter HSLA steels for pipelines have been studied. Nonmetallic inclusions of the CaO-2O3-MgO system, close to calcium monoaluminate CaO∙Al2O3 with up to 5-6% of MgO, have been found as favorable from morphology point of view. These small inclusions nucleate on endogenous MgO substrates at sufficient high content of calcium in steel melt. Hot rolled plates can be rejected due to the coarse calcium bi- and hexa-aluminate inclusions (CaO∙22O3 and CaO∙62O3), usually containing exogenous MgO. These coarse inclusions form under calcium deficiency conditions, especially in the case of longtime steel holding in a ladle.