Recrystallization Kinetics and Microstructure Evolution of Annealed Cold-Drawn Low-Carbon Steel

Abstract

The recrystallization behavior of cold-drawn 0.12 wt% C steel during annealing at temperatures 600˚C and 650˚C was investigated. Hardness tests were used to characterize the recrystallization kinetics. The micrographs of the steel were obtained using optical microscopy (OM) to characterize the grain microstructure of the non-treated and the annealed steel samples. Annihilation of dislocation defects occur within the soaking time of 5 - 10 minutes for all the deformed steel after annealing at 650˚C. Specifically at 5 minutes soaking time the grains elongation is still observed indicating that reformation of grains is not taking place but recovery of the deformed grains. At the 10 minutes annealing time, new grains are observed to begin and full recrystallization is achieved at 15 minutes annealing time. At annealing time between 20 - 25 minutes, grains coarsening are observed indicating the onset of grain growth.