Effect of Intercritical Annealing Parameters on Dual Phase Behavior of Commercial Low-Alloyed Steels

The effects of some intercritical annealing parameters including heating rate, soaking temperature, soaking time, and quench media on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cold-rolled dual phase steel were studied. The microstructure of specimens quenched after each annealing stage was analyzed using optical microscope. The tensile properties, determined for specimens submitted to complete annealing cycles, were influenced by the volume fractions of multiphases (originated from martensite, bainite, and retained austenite), which depend on the annealing process parameters. The results obtained showed that the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength increase with increasing the intercritical temperature and cooling rate. This can be explained by higher martensite volume ratio with the increased volume fraction of austenite formed at the higher temperatures and cooling rates.