Abstract Synthetic slag has been added during BOF tapping in order to modify the physicochemical properties of resulting slag with the aim of assessing the influence on inclusion density, composition and size distribution. Viscosities and activities of slag oxides were calculated by FactSage 7.2, using the FToxid database and Viscosity module. All heats were treated under vacuum in an RH degasser for 15 minutes. A comparative analysis of top slags with two levels of FeO+MnO (> 10% and ≤ 10%) was carried out. The higher level of FeO+MnO led to almost thrice more inclusion than the lower level. Top slags after treatment with synthetic slag brought the best result of inclusions features thanks to their higher CaO activity, lower viscosity and lower activity of Al2O3. These heats presented smaller inclusions and lower initial inclusion density at ladle arrival at RH. Based on these evidences, top slags with synthetic slags added during the tapping and FeO+MnO content ≤ 10% conferred the best condition in steel cleanliness.

Steel with high cleanliness requirements require an accurate control of the non-metallic inclusions, such as its quantity, morphology, chemical composition and size distribution. The continuous casting tundish has a fundamental role in steel cleanliness, avoiding its reoxidation by air and ladle slag that retain inclusions, as well as aiding the removal of those same inclusions along the continuous casting (Sahai, 2008). To perform the study, IF steel samples were collected in RH at the start, in the middle and at the end of the continuous casting of the tundish's first heat in three different conditions of tundish processing, alternating between heating and purging. These samples had their inclusions characterized by MEV/EDS using the ASCAT (Automated Steel Cleanliness Analysis Tool) technology. The results showed that more than 90% of the oxide inclusions generated in that type of steel are Al2O3 and AlTi. It was also observed that there is an increase of steel inclusions originating from RH in the tundish and that area fraction and average inclusionary density decreases along the continuous casting in two of the processing conditions.