The automated steel cleanliness analysis tool (ASCAT), based on computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM), continues to provide valuable information on inclusions that can help solve problems related to both steel castability and quality. ASGAT can determine the size and composition of up to 1,000 inclusions in less than 45 minutes. In this article, issues related to cleanliness during transient casting events and the effect of residuals in ferroalloys on inclusion chemistry and clogging are discussed. It is important to understand the nature and content of inclusions during transient casting events such as low tundish and start-up, since slabs are often dispositioned based on concerns related to inclusion content.
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