Formation of fine cementite precipitates by static annealing of equal-channel angular pressed low-carbon steels

In this study, a static annealing of low-carbon steels severely deformed by equal-channel angular pressing was conducted. Employment of the processing route on a low-carbon steel containing 0.06% vanadium resulted in the formation of cementite precipitations as well as the refinement of ferrite grains to submicrometer size. During the static annealing treatment, rod-like cementites in the pearlite colonies of the sample decomposed to form spherical cementite precipitates distributed uniformly in ferrite grains. The decomposition phenomenon of the cementite is discussed on the basis of the dislocation-cementite interaction. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.