Two industrial studies and one set of lab scale trials have been

done. In addition, a
theoretical study has been done. The main focus has been on
non metallic inclusion
composition during the ladle refining operation in industrial
steel production.
Sampling has been done together with careful inclusion
determination. The
inclusion composition is related to different variables. In the
industrial trials
samples have been taken at different steps during the ladle
refining period. Steel
and slag composition as well as temperature and oxygen
activity have been
determined.
The thesis is based on five supplements with different major
objectives, all related
to the inclusion composition. The equilibrium top slag-steel
bulk and inclusionssteel
bulk were investigated by comparison between calculated and
measured
oxygen activity values. The oxygen activity and relation to
temperature has also
been discussed as well as oxygen activity and temperature
gradients. The effect of
vacuum pressure on inclusion composition has been evaluated
in a theoretical
study as well as lab scale trials. The inclusion composition has
been studied during
the industrial ladle treatment process. The inclusion
composition was related to top
slag composition and other parameters during ladle treatment.
The major findings in the thesis are the lack of equilibrium
conditions with respect
to top-slag and steel bulk before vacuum treatment. The
inclusions have been
found to be closer to equilibrium with the steel bulk. Al/Al 2O3
equilibrium has
been found to control the oxygen activity after Al-deoxidation.
Evaluation of
inclusion composition during the ladle refining has revealed
that the majority of the

inclusions showed a continuous composition change

throughout the ladle refining
process, from high Al2O3, via MgO-spinel to finally complex
types rich in CaO and
Al2O3. The final inclusion composition after vacuum treatment
was found to be
close to the top slag composition. Vacuum pressure has been
found to have a
theoretical effect on inclusion composition at very low
pressures.