Strain-Induced Dissolution of Cementite in Cold-Drawn Pearlitic Steel Wires

Abstract

Strain-induced dissolution of cementite is one of the most important microstructural changes undergone by a pearlitic steel wire during cold drawing, and hence must be adequately taken into account in the microstructure–property relationship. Despite extensive studies of cementite dissolution, the kinetics of dissolution is still lacking. The traditional electrolytic phase extraction technique appears well suited to quantifying the residual cementite in drawn pearlite. This work also shows how this basic technique can shed new light on the mechanism of dissolution.