Pearlite Interlamellar Spacing and Vickers Micro-Hardness in the Necking Region of Cold-Drawn Pearlitic Steel Wires

The final aim of this paper is to study the microstructural changes in the necking region of progressively cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires by means of a thorough and detailed analysis of pearlite interlamellar spacing and Vickers micro-hardness in this special region. To this end, a set of progressively cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires belonging to a real manufacturing chain were subjected to standard tension tests, in such a manner that the tests were interrupted before the final fracture, i.e., the test development was aborted just at the necking instant. The microstructural changes during necking were evaluated by measuring the pearlite interlamellar spacing in the necking region, as well as the Vickers micro-hardness in the different points of it. The study of the afore-said microstructural changes preceding the final fracture was the final aim of the research, intending to determine the local areas in the necking region of the specimens in which microstructural changes are most evident, thereby affecting the local mechanical response of a specific cold-drawn steel at the moment of instability under load control during the standard tension test.

Automated summary

The final aim of this paper is to study the microstructural changes in the necking region of progressively cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires by analyzing pearlite interlamellar spacing and Vickers micro-hardness. A set of cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires were subjected to tension tests, with the tests interrupted at the necking instant. Changes in microstructure were evaluated by measuring interlamellar spacing and micro-hardness. The research aims to determine the local areas in the necking region where microstructural changes are most evident and affect mechanical response during tension tests.