To forecast types of inclusions formed during the real deoxidation process, thermodynamic stability diagrams and nucleation kinetics of magnesium and aluminum complex deoxidation in the liquid iron are calculated. Thermodynamic Mg–Al–O 3D stability diagram with different deoxidation products is calculated at 1600 °C using Wagner's second order model. Kinetics of homogeneous nucleation and heterogeneous nucleation of inclusions are calculated according to the classical nucleation theory. The effects of nucleation rate and frequency factors on the homogeneous nucleation are discussed. As nucleation rate increases and frequency factor decreases, inclusions nucleation becomes more difficult, causing the 3D stability diagram to shift toward the higher dissolved oxygen content. In addition, MgO·Al 2 O 3 inclusions are difficult to nucleate homogeneously and heterogeneously through dissolved aluminum, oxygen, and magnesium directly.
Zhu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.