Synchrotron diffraction study of the cementite phase in cold drawn pearlitic steel wires

Energy dispersive synchrotron diffraction has been carried out on cold drawn pearlitic steel wires. In this paper the observed cementite peaks are analysed. For a broad range of true drawing strains sin(2)(psi) curves have been measured. The residual stress in the cementite is found to saturate after reaching a maximum at a strain of about 1.6. No indication of significant texture development in the cementite could be observed. An explanation is given in terms of possible physical mechanisms. Peak broadening was observed at the early stages of deformation.