Influence of a solution treatment on the evolution of through‐thickness texture gradients in dry cold rolled and recrystallized low carbon steel

The influence of a solution treatment on the evolution of through‐thickness texture gradients in a low carbon steel was studied. In order to intensify through‐thickness variations of the strain state, the samples were cold rolled dry, i.e. without lubrication. The evolution of the texture and the microstructure during rolling and recrystallization was tracked by X‐ray texture analysis and TEM microstructure investigations. The strain distribution during rolling was simulated for several layers of the rolled sheets by the finite element method. After the rolling deformation, a specimen taken directly from the hot band showed pronounced through‐thickness texture gradients, whereas the solution treated specimen showed a rather uniform rolling texture in all layers analyzed. Analysis of the friction behaviour between the different specimens and the roll material points to a much higher friction between the softer hot band and the rolls. This leads to stronger through‐thickness variations in the strain state and, thus, to the pronounced texture gradients observed. The texture gradients in the recrystallized samples reflected those of the as‐rolled sheets. In the center layer of the hot band specimen and in all layers of the solution treated specimen characteristic though notably weakened typical plane strain recrystallization textures formed; the textures in outer layers of the hot band sample were even almost random. These weak recrystallization textures could be attributed to the highly inhomogeneous as‐deformed microstructure.