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1630 to 1635
#2003 The Japan Institute of Metals
EXPRESS REGULAR ARTICLE
Spheroidization behavior of cementite in a low carbon steel processed by the equal channel angular pressing technique was investigated.
The effects of annealing temperature and time, and accumulated strain on the morphology of cementite and mechanical properties were studied.
The results indicated that the application of the severe plastic deformation can improve the kinetics of spheroidization significantly. In this study,
the enhanced spheroidization kinetics was discussed in terms of carbon dissolution from cementites and defects induced in cementites by the
severe plastic deformation. In addition, the softening of the steel after the spheroidization treatment was evaluated.
plunger
sample f
Fig. 4 TEM micrographs of pearlite in 4 pass steel samples annealed at 753 K for various annealing time: (a) 1 h; (b) 24 h; (c) 72 h.
Spheroidization of Low Carbon Steel Processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing 1633
Fig. 5 TEM and SEM micrographs of pearlite in 4 pass steel samples annealed for 1 h: (a), (b) 783 K; (c), (d) 813 K.
annealing treatment, the grain size of ferrite remained close partial spheroidization of the cementite was noted with the
to 0.3 mm in diameter, which might be due to a pinning effect sample after 8 passes and full spheroidization after 12 passes.
of such grain boundary cementites. The increase in the accumulated strain to 12 has reduced
As the annealing temperature is further increased to 873 K the spheroidization temperature significantly down to 723 K.
and 973 K, the spheroidized cementites and ferrite grains This indicates that the large strain imparted on the sample
were observed to coarsen (Fig. 6). The annealing time was could reduce the temperature of spheroidization by 300 K.
also 1 hour. A SEM micrograph of the sample annealed at In addition, the spheroidization time was reduced approx-
873 K shows that the cementite coarsened to 0:08 mm and imately to 12 minutes. Each of the ECA pressing takes about
the ferrite grains became recrystallized and coarsened to 1 minute. These results shows that the defects such as
7 mm in diameter. The coarsening of the cementite was dislocations as well as carbon dissolution introduced by
more significant at grain boundaries of ferrite phase. The size severe deformation imposed on steels could increase the
was increased to 0.27 mm. As the annealing temperature is kinetics of spheroidization significantly.
increased further to 973 K, the cementite in the ferrite matrix The samples annealed at 873 K and 973 K for 1 hour were
was coarsened more to 0.21 mm and those at grain boundaries tested for their tensile properties along with as-received and
were measured to be 0.38 mm. One of the interesting as-ECA pressed samples (Fig. 8). The annealed samples were
characteristics with sample annealed at 973 K is that the selected since the matrix is completely recrystallized. The
spheroidized cementite was somewhat dispersed throughout yield strength and fracture elongation of the as-received
the ferrite matrix. In other words, the spheroidization of the sample was 320 MPa and 30%, respectively. The yield
cementite was not localized to the former pearlite colony strength of the as-ECA pressed sample was increased to
area. Higher annealing temperature might have promoted the 900 MPa, but the fracture elongation was reduced to
diffusion of carbon to ferrite matrix and precipitation of the 10%, due to work hardening and grain refining effects.
cementite. Under the two annealing conditions, the ferrite Annealing at 873 K reduced the yield strength to 450 MPa
matrix was recrystallized completely. With the annealing and recovered the elongation to 28%. The strength of the
conditions in proceeding sections, samples were either sample was higher by 45% and elongation was similar
polygonized or partially recrystallized. compared with the as-received sample. The grain refining as
The effect of accumulated strain on the spheroidization noted in Fig. 6(a) should have contributed to the increased
behavior was studied by increasing number of ECA passes on strength. The annealing treatment at 973 K, on the other hand,
the steel. Figure 7 shows TEM micrographs of samples after reduced the yield strength of the sample lower than that of as-
8 and 12 passes of ECA pressing at 723 K. The samples were received sample to 310 MPa. In addition, the fracture
examined without any additional annealing treatment. A elongation was improved to 37%. The spheroidization
1634 D. H. Shin, S. Y. Han, K.-T. Park, Y.-S. Kim and Y.-N. Paik
Fig. 6 SEM micrographs of microstructural change of ferrite and pearlite Fig. 7 TEM micrographs of pearlite in pressed steel samples: (a) 8 passes;
regions in 4 pass steel samples annealed at various temperature for 1 h: (b) 12 passes.
(a) 873 K; (c) 973 K.
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