Effect of rare earth La–Ce on solidification structure of 3.2%Si-0.9%Al non-oriented silicon steel

The effect of rare earth on the solidification structure of 3.2%Si-0.9%Al non-oriented silicon steel was investigated using industrial trials. The outputs demonstrated that increasing rare earth content leads to a decrease in the average size of equiaxed crystals in the casting billets. In order to further understand the rare earth on the grain refinement of δ-ferrite, the conventional inclusion detection technology, was used to investigate the distribution characteristics of inclusions, together with theoretical calculation of the equilibrium partition coefficients, pinning forces and mismatch degrees. The detection results of inclusions and the calculation results of pinning force showed that the effect of rare earth on the pinning force of inclusions was marginal. Thermodynamic calculation indicated that Ce addition had negligible effect on the equilibrium partition coefficient of Si, Al and Mn. Combined with the calculation results of GRF model, it is reasonable to consider that the contribution of rare earth element to the refinement of equiaxed crystals can be ignored. Further, the outcomes obtained from the E2EM model calculations revealed that the principal mechanism responsible for the refinement of equiaxed crystals through rare earth treatment can be attributed to the heterogeneous nucleation effect of (La, Ce)2O2S.