Deformation and recrystallisation of steels

Abstract

There have been important developments in steel products and steel manufacturing processes over the past thirty years, many of which have had major implications for cold rolled and annealed strip products. The development of microalloyed steels and their use in cold rolled and annealed gauges have resulted in a much better understanding of the role of second phase particles on deformation and recrystallisation characteristics. The development of dual phase steels, with their enhanced work hardening rates and improved resistance to plastic instability, has also had an impact on sheet metal products. Products have also benefited from improved steelmaking practices, as for example in the manufacture of clean steels and the use of vacuum oxygen decarburisation processes. The advent of continuous casting and the associated deoxidation practices have required substantial technological development with regard to the subsequent processing routes and product properties. A similar change is happening with the introduction of continuous annealing. These developments and some of the background metallurgical principles are discussed.

MST/1296