Continuous Cooling Transformation Behavior of High Carbon Pearlitic Steel

Abstract

The continuous cooling transformation behavior of high-carbon pearlitic steel was studied by employing optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the Vickers hardness test. The results show that the microstructure of the test steel is composed of proeutectoid cementite and lamellar pearlite in the cooling rate range of 0.05–2 °C/s and lamellar pearlite in the range of 2–5 °C/s. Further, martensite appears at 10 °C/s. With the increase in the cooling rate, the Vickers hardness of the test steel first decreases and then increases. In the industrial production of high-carbon pearlite steel, the formation of proeutectoid cementite at a low cooling rate needs to be avoided, and at the same time, the formation of martensite and other brittle-phase at a high cooling rate needs to be avoided.