Impact of the Spheroidization Annealing on the Intensification or Mitigation of the Initial Pearlite Banding Degree Presented in Wire Rolled State

Abstract

In this study, two initial conditions of the steel 16MnCrS5 are considered: the industrially hot-rolled pearlite structures in their ferritic matrix and a specifically adjusted microstructure in the lab condition. Based on the experimental investigations and quantitative microstructural analyses, an empirical model for the prediction of pearlite banding within a broad range of annealing durations could be derived. Both, experiment and model, agree that pronounced pearlite bands in the initial state almost disappear after 25 h of spheroidization annealing. On the other hand, a marginal degree of pearlite banding in the initial state increases slightly during annealing. This fact could be explained by inhomogeneous cementite formation inside and outside the primary segregation regions of manganese.