Formation Mechanism for the TiN–MnS Complex Inclusions in Tire Cord Steel

High strength tire cord steel is extensively used in radial ply tyres as the framework material, but the presence of brittle single titanium inclusions or complex titanium inclusions can cause failure of the wires and jeopardize their performance in production. In order to provide a key guidance on the control of titanium inclusions, it is necessary to clarify their formation mechanism during solidification. In the present work, the thermodynamic calculations were employed for an elaboration on their formation mechanism, combined with the industrial test. The TiN–MnS complex inclusions observed by SEM–EDS shows that the internal corresponds to TiN and the external is MnS. Thermodynamic calculations based on the microsegregation model indicate that MnS forms first, which can act as a nucleation site for the co–deposit of TiN in the mushy zone. As the MnS inclusions have a better deformation than that of TiN inclusions, then the TiN inclusions are wrapped by the MnS inclusions, generating TiN–MnS complex inclusions after rolling.