The amount, distribution, size and chemical composition of non-metallic inclusions have a direct influence on steel properties. By controlling size and chemical composition of these inclusions, it is possible to get a product with good quality. The identification of the nature and the control of inclusion formation are very important for steel cleanness. The behavior of these inclusions is predictable, in some extent, by the determination of the chemical composition of non-metallic phases that form such inclusions. With the objective of studying the chemical composition, the size and the distribution of such inclusions, samples of aluminum and silicon killed low carbon steels were collected in a national steel industry in the secondary refining and continuous casting stages. These samples were analyzed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled to an energy dispersive analysis system (EDS). From the results, it was possible to evaluate the nature of inclusions and to analyze the effectiveness of the refining process in the reduction of the number and area fraction of the inclusions. It was also possible to verify that the inclusions that remained after treatment, are less damage both to the steel properties as to the continuous casting process (clogging of the submerged valve).

Atualmente, um dos grandes desafios enfrentados pelas empresas nacionais fabricantes de condutores elétricos, de alumínio, tem sido a ocorrência de inclusões não metálicas. Tais inclusões causam a ruptura dos fios ao longo dos processos de laminação, trefilação e encordoamento. Assim, a presença de inclusões não metálicas nesses materiais tem impactos significativos na capacidade de produzir fios elétricos com pequenos diâmetros, bem como no atendimento dos rigorosos requisitos de resistência à tração e à fadiga estabelecidos para esses materiais. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho analisou as inclusões não metálicas em fios elétricos de alumínio, que causaram a ruptura dos mesmos na etapa do processo de trefilação, através do método metalográfico convencional com auxílio do MEV/EDS, na busca de identificar a origem das inclusões. Também foi desenvolvido, nesse trabalho, um método de separação de inclusões não metálicas, presentes nos fios elétricos de alumínio, através da dissolução da matriz de alumínio em solução de ácido clorídrico. A análise das inclusões isoladas da matriz de alumínio permitiu uma investigação mais ampla quanto ao tamanho, à forma e à quantidade de tais inclusões. Os resultados mostraram que as inclusões responsáveis pelo rompimento dos fios são do tipo alumina e que as mesmas são provenientes do arraste de parte da camada de óxido de alumínio que protege o metal líquido nas calhas revestidas com material refratário.

Actually, one of the biggest challenge for the national electrical aluminum conductors industries has been the occurrence of non-metallic inclusions. These inclusions cause the rupture of the wires during the rolling, drawing and bunchering process. Then, the presence of non-metallic inclusions in these materials has significant impact in the capacity of small diameter wire's production, such as to reach rigorous requirements of strength's resistance and fatigue established for these materials. This study analyzes the aluminum wire's non-metallic inclusions that have caused those rupture during the drawing process, using conventional metallographic method with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) connect to an energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), in order to identify the inclusions' source. It was also developed a method of isolation of non-metallic inclusions by dissolving the aluminum matrix in a HCl solution. The analysis of isolated inclusions allowed a ampler investigation of the size, form and amount of the inclusions. The results showed that the inclusions responsible by wires' break are of the alumina type and their source is the aluminum oxide dragged of part of the layer that protects the liquid metal in the chutes covered with refractory material.