Producing the nano/ultrafine grained low carbon steel by martensite process using plane strain compression

In this study, a simple experimental method was developed to produce the nano/ultrafine grained structure in a low carbon steel. This method involved cold plane strain compression of martensite starting structure and subsequent annealing. The martensitic specimens were first plane strained to 75% reduction in thickness (equivalent strain of 1.5), followed by subsequent annealing at the temperature range of 400–550 °C for 0–180 min. The microstructures and mechanical properties of specimens were characterized. The microstructure of the specimen annealed at 500 °C for 65 min showed cementite precipitates in the ferritic microstructure with the grain size of about 145 nm. The results showed superior mechanical properties with the estimated values of ultimate strength of 1135 MPa and uniform elongation of 11.6% for the fully recrystallized specimen.