Study on Influence of Rare Earth Ce on Micro and Macro Properties of U75V Steel

Non-metallic inclusions in steel have great influence on the continuity of the steel matrix and the mechanical properties of steel. The precipitation sequence of Ce inclusions in molten steel is predicted by thermodynamic calculations. The results show that Ce content will affect the precipitation sequence of rare earth inclusions in molten steel, and the formation of CeO₂, Ce₂O₃ and CeAlO₃ will be inhibited with the increase in Ce content. Our laboratory smelted the test steel without rare earth additive and the test steel with rare earth Ce additive (0.0008%, 0.0013%, 0.0032%, 0.0042%). It was found that the MnS inclusions and inclusions containing Al, Ca, Mg and Si oxides or sulfides in the steel after rare earth addition were modified into complex inclusions containing CeAlO₃ and Ce₂O₂S. The size of inclusion in steel was reduced and the aspect ratio of inclusion was improved. The addition of Ce also improved the grain size of U75V steel and significantly refined the pearlite lamellar spacing. After mechanical property testing of the test steel, it was found that when Ce is increased within 0.0042%, the tensile and impact properties of U75V steel are also improved.