Research Progress on Effects of Rare Earth Lanthanum and Cerium on Improving Cleanliness of Liquid Steel and Strengthening Properties of Steel
The applications of elements are out of balance in the rare earth industry in our country as well as abundant lanthanum and cerium are surplus so that the applications of rare earth in steel are gradually heeded. In the paper,the re-search progress on treating steel with rare earth lanthanum and cerium at home and abroad in recent years are overviewed,which includes the effects of rare earth on purifying liquid steel,modifying inclusions and microalloying as well as design of deoxidation test for rare earth proves the feasibility of rare earth as deoxidizer of liquid steel. Moreover,the performances of rare earth in strengthening properties of steel as well as superiorities of purifying liquid steel with rare earth and alkali metal and microalloying of rare earth under low oxygen condition are introduced. The efficient utilizations of rare earth in steel are expected based on summarizing the on-going results.