Effect of inclusions on the solidification structures of ferritic stainless steel: Computational and experimental study of inclusion evolution

► Steel composition was controlled by flux/metal equilibrium before solidification. ► Inclusion evolution and the phase equilibria in FSS were thoroughly computed and experimentally proved. ► The role of TiN/MgAl2O4 single and/or complex solids in grain refinement was elucidated. ► Bimodal distribution of inclusions was found in fine-grained equiaxed structure.