Improvement of drawability of titanium-stabilized interstitial-free steel by optimization of process parameters and texture

A detailed study on the effect of cold rolling and annealing temperature on the texture and drawability of Ti-stabilized interstitial-free (IF) steels have been made with a view to achieving high drawability. The presence of shear type and cold-deformation type of textures in the hot bands of 3.8-., 4.3- and 4.5-mm thickness has been attributed to finish rolling below the Ar(3) temperature. The 4.5-mm hot band was selected for further studies as it showed a strong gamma fiber. Cold rolling of the hot band was done in the range of 60 to 90 pet, followed by batch annealing in the range of 660 degrees C to 750 degrees C. For a particular annealing temperature, a maximum in the intensity of {111} < 110 > component, and in average normal anisotropy, an r(m) value was observed with the increase in cold reduction, followed by a drop with further cold reduction. The results are discussed in terms of orientation distribution function (ODF), recrystallization behavior, and precipitation of FeTiP, (Ti, Mn) S, and Tic particles. Fine FeTiP-type precipitates in the grains and at the grain boundaries in samples annealed at 660 degrees C, as well as samples associated with (Ti., Mn)S in samples annealed at 750 degrees C, were found to be detrimental for the development of beneficial gamma fiber and improved drawability, while coarse FeTiP-type precipitates in 80 pet cold-reduced samples annealed at 680 degrees C and 710 degrees C resulted in maximum r(m) values of 2.29 and 2.25, respectively. The dissolution of TIC at an annealing temperature of 750 degrees C adversely affected drawability due to the solute drag effect of solute carbon. An optimized combination of cold reduction and annealing temperature has been established for achieving a uniform gamma fiber along with high r(m) values.