Influence of Second Phase Particles on Recrystallisation of Cold-Rolled Low Carbon Microalloyed Steels during Isothermal Annealing

The recrystallisation behaviour of two cold-rolled low carbon microalloyed steels with different Ti content was investigated by thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements and metallography. It was shown that recrystallisation was more sluggish in the higher Ti grade steel as compare with traditional ELC and LC steels. The existence of Ti in solid solution together with the pinning effect of Nb-, V- and Ti-rich particles are likely to be responsible for such behaviour. Metallographic etching with picral revealed that cementite act as preferential nucleation site for recrystallisation.