Abstract
Low carbon steels containing Si of up to $1.2\;wt\%$ were oxidized in air at 1373 K and 1523 K, i.e. below and above the eutectic temperature of FeO and $Fe_2SiO_4$. The influence of a impurity element, S on behavior of scale formation during oxidation was investigated by using $M\"{o}chssbauer$ spectroscopy and EDS. This allowed establishment of an interface oxidation model of Si-added steel depending on temperature and an impurity element. A compound of FeO and FeS was formed in the scale/matrix interface of low carbon steels containing S of up to $0.03\;wt\%$ oxidized above 1213 K of the eutectic temperature. This was flat formed between $Fe_2SiO_4$ nodules along the scale/matrix interface without selective oxidation. It is due to low viscosity and high wettability of the compound of FeO and FeS in liquid. Conventional metallographic examinations revealed that roughness of the scale/matrix interface in Si-added steels became flat as the content of S increased. It was independent of oxidizing temperature and Si content. Effects of oxidizing temperature and an impurity element content on descaling characteristics in Si-added steels were evaluated by using a hydraulic descaling simulator. Good descaling characteristics was attributable to this flatness of the scale/matrix interface.