Spheroidization of low carbon steel processed by equal channel angular pressing

Abstract

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.