A new technology to improve the r̄-value of interstitial-free (IF) steel sheet

In order to improve the formability of IF steel sheet further, the authors invented a new technology, named the W–W method. The key idea of the W–W method is to obtain a hot-rolling microstructure with a very strong {1 1 1} texture beneficial to the development of {1 1 1} texture during the cold-rolling and annealing process. An IF steel is used to compare the effect of the new technology with that of conventional technology. Through the new technology, the r̄-value of IF steel sheet is improved by 0.6. The effect of the W–W method is testified by texture analysis results.