The Effect of Ca Content on the Formation Behavior of Inclusions in the Heat Affected Zone of Thick High-Strength Low-Alloy Steel Plates after Large Heat Input Weldings

Ca deoxidation has been acknowledged recently as an effective oxide metallurgy technology that improves the toughness of the heat affected zone (HAZ) in high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel plates after large heat input welding. This paper describes the effect of Ca concentrations on the formation behavior of the non-metallic inclusions in the HAZs of a series of thick HSLA steel plates after large heat input welding at 400 kJ cm−1. The quantitative statistics on the inclusions show that the Ca addition significantly decreases the quantity of the pure MnS sulfide, but increases that of the complex oxysulfide. The pure MnS sulfide precipitates below the solidus temperature, while the complex oxysulfide forms in the molten liquid, leading to the core (oxide) and shell (sulfide) structure. The Ca addition proportionally improves the HAZ toughness of these thick HSLA steel plates, primarily owing to the positive effect of the complex oxysulfides on the refinement of the HAZ microstructure.