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It is well known that alumina inclusions on the surface of molten Al-killed steel quickly attract each other to form clusters. On the other hand, alumina-magnesia complex inclusions on the surface of molten low-carbon steel with a high oxygen content have a much weaker tendency to form clusters. In the present work, the reason for the different behaviors of the two types of inclusions was analyzed in detail. A confocal scanning laser microscope was used to carry out the experiment of in-situ observation of the two types of inclusion on the molten pool. The first type of inclusion was 93 mass pct alumina-7 mass pct magnesian, obtained in a Mg-added Al-killed steel. The second type of inclusion was nearly pure magnesia, obtained in a Mg-killed steel. The attractive force between a pair of inclusions, for both cases, was found to be approximately 1O Ϫ17 to 10 Ϫ16 N and one-tenth of that between a pair of alumina inclusions. The various effects of contact angle, surface tension, and oxygen content of the steel melt on the attractive force are discussed in detail from the viewpoint of the capillary force.

SynopsisA method of mathematically analyzing interdendritic microsegregation was established using finite difference method and taking into consideration the diffusion of the solute in the solid and liquid phases. The cross-sectional shape of dendrites and the fact that the enrichment of the solute in the liquid phase at the solid-liquid interface restrains the advancement speed of the solid-liquid interface were considered. Directional solidification tests to examine interdendritic segregation were made to verify the mathematical analysis method established. The advantages of the new method over other methods were discussed. Then, spot-like segregation were mathematically analyzed applying the same method, and the results were in good agreement with the observations in continuously-cast slabs.