2025 Yi Wang State of art of in situ observations of inclusion agglomeration at steel Ar and steel slag interfaces a review of recent development on experimental

Cleanliness control of advanced steels is crucial for quality assurance in steel products. To enhance the understanding and management of inclusion removal during the refining process in molten steel, this review focuses on the dynamics of inclusions at various steel/gas/slag interfaces, a topic that has garnered significant attention in the metallurgical field. Recent advancements concerning the agglomeration of non-metallic inclusions at the steel/Ar and steel/slag interfaces are examined, highlighting both experimental and theoretical investigations. In high-temperature interfacial observation, high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy has been employed to study a wider array of inclusion types, shifting focus beyond traditional Al2O3 inclusions to include rare earth oxides and MgO-based oxides. On the theoretical front, recent developments have addressed the limitations of the Kralchevsky–Paunov model by integrating water model concepts with physical modeling, thus correcting potential inaccuracies arising from prior assumptions. Furthermore, future research prospects are proposed, emphasizing the integration of thermal physical properties of steels and slag, alongside the application of artificial intelligence methodologies to comprehensively analyze the motion of inclusions throughout metallurgical processes.