No abstract

ABSTRACfThis thesis is concerned with the first (to the author's knowledge) attempts to utilize the properties of low carbon dualphase steels to produce high strength wire as an alternative to existing practice using pearlitic medium to high carbon steels.This goal to design a dual-phase steel suitable for drawing into high strength wire necessitated a study of the relationships between the microstructure and properties of undrawn rod and rod drawn into wire. and of the deformation of dual-phase steel at . ;. large strains.Dual-phase steel was selected for this study because of its pronounced strain hardening rate and superior formability. These properties permit dual-phase steel to be drawn to large strains and high strengths. The alloy composition and processing are ii generally quite simple and they can be varied to produce a wide range of structures and mechanical properties to fit specific applications.Dual-phase microstructures of several different martensite volume fractions, particle shapes, particle sizes, carbon contents and crystallographic relations with the ferrite matrix were studied. It was found that good mechanical properties could

No abstract