The Compound Influence of Textureand Microstructure on theMechanical Properties of Low‐C SteelWires

A series of experiments were made determining textural, microstructural, and mechanical propertiesin cold drawn, and spheroidization heat treated low-C steel wires (AISI-1018 and 1033 grades). It wasfound that texture exerted a significant influence on the mechanical properties, while microstructure had a comparable influence. Mechanical properties are represented by yield strength (YS), ultimate compressive strength (UCS)and by homogeneous strain energy (EHOM), defined by the integral of stress up to uniformelongation. Textural properties are represented by the Taylor-factor, M , the R -value, and by themaximum of the orientation distribution function (ODFMAX). Micro-structural properties aretreated with the help of the aspect ratio parameter (1/√ AR ), where AR is the grain aspect ratio(length to ellipsoidal width), the grain size parameter (1/√ D ), and the mean free path between second phase spheroidized cementites √ N . For cold drawn steel wires, homogeneous strain energy (EHOM) is well correlated to (1/√ AR ) and(ODFMAX). Yield strength, on the other hand, appears to be chiefly influenced by the aspect ratioparameter, thus here ODFMAX exerts less influence. The yield strength (YS) of annealed,spheroidization treated low-C wires are equally influenced by the grain size parameter (1/√ D ), themean distance between spherulites (√ N ) and by ODFMAX. The textures of the cold drawn wires could be well described by the〈 110 〉fibre parallel to wire axis, and by the〈 111 〉fibre normal to wire axis. The annealed wires, while also featuring these two fibres, displayed a distinct {111} 〈 110 〉 single orientation.