Comparison of Deformation Structure of Lath Martensite in Low Carbon and Ultra-Low Carbon Steels

Abstract

The microstructural development of cold-rolled lath martensite structure in the low carbon steels and ultra-low carbon steels are studied and compared. In low carbon steel of as-quenched specimens, very thin austenite films exist at boundaries of adjacent laths, but do not exist in ultra-low carbon steel. After cold rolling for the low carbon steel, the lamellar dislocation cells, irregularly bent laths and kinked laths regions are frequently observed and, in some instances, the disappearance of initial lath boundaries is observed. The existence of retained austenite films suggests that the lath boundaries rarely disappear during cold-rolling in the low carbon steel.