EFFECT OF ANNEALING PROCESS ON RECRYSTALLIZATION MICROSTRUCTURE AND TEXTURE OF LOW CARBON STEEL STRIP

The microstructure and texture of cold rolled low carbon steel produced by compact strip production after batch and continuous annealing have been investigated. Optical microscopy, bulk X-ray texture analysis and micro orientation analysis with Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) were conducted to investigate the general microstructure and texture in correlation with the mechanical properties as well as formability under the two annealing procedures. The results indicate that the microstructure of the cold-rolled steel after batch annealing exhibit special orientation relationship with the matrix in comparison to continuous annealing. As an explanation of the oval-shaped grains character, the recrystallization microstructure and texture evolution was discussed. It is concluded that the annealing plays a significant effect on the special orientation and texture formation of the CSP strip, and thus to the formability and mechanical behavior of the final products.