Estimation of probable maximum aspect ratio of MnS inclusions in non-quenched and tempered steel after isothermal compression

To clarify the deformation behavior of MnS inclusions in a non-quenched and tempered steel at three different positions (edge, 1/2 radius and center) in the cross-section of the billet in the course of hot rolling, isothermal compression experiments were performed under the deformation temperature range from 1073 to 1473 K, the reduction rates from 25% to 75% and the strain rates from 0.01 to 10 s⁻¹. The variations of deformability features (i.e., aspect ratios, size distributions, and morphologies) of MnS inclusions with those isothermal compression parameters were revealed. The evaluation of the probable maximum aspect ratio of MnS inclusions at the three different positions in the cross-section of the billet after hot rolling was examined using the statistical analysis of extreme values. Results showed that the number densities of MnS inclusions at three different positions (edge, 1/2 radius and center) in the cross-section of the steel billet only fluctuated slightly when the deformation parameters varied in the isothermal compression, while the average inclusion aspect ratios in all cases generally have a negative correlation with the deformation temperature and positive correlations with the reduction ratio and the strain rate. Statistical analysis reveals that larger inclusions deform more easily during hot rolling. The effect of rolling temperature on the extreme value of the aspect ratio of inclusions is the smallest, while the effects of initial size, reduction ratio and strain rate are more significant.