Investigation into dynamic strain aging behaviour in high carbon steel

Abstract

In this work, the phenomenon of dynamic strain aging in a high carbon steel is studied and different initial microstructures including fine and coarse pearlite structures are considered. Tensile tests at different temperatures and strain rates are performed to evaluate the occurrence of dynamic strain aging and mechanical properties as well as to calculate apparent activation energies for onset and termination of dynamic strain aging. The results show that dynamic strain aging occurs for both microstructures while the initial microstructures alters the activation energies for appearance and termination of this phenomenon. The microstructural studies illustrate that a combination of cementite decomposition and fracture of cementite layers are responsible for occurrence of dynamic strain aging depending on applied strain rate and deformation temperature.