Microstructure-property relationships in pearlitic eutectoid and hypereutectoid carbon steels

Fully pearlitic steels are of great importance in a number of extremely demanding structural applications, in large part because of their combination of strength and toughness. Strength and toughness are controlled by the microstructures developed in pearlitic steels, especially interlamellar spacing, pearlite colony size, and prior austenite grain size. This article reviews the effects of these microstructural features on the yield strength and toughness of fully pearlitic steels, the importance of hypereutectoid alloy compositions for increasing the strength of fully pearlitic steels.