Equivalent Rule of Strain Aging in Carbon Steel

Abstract

The rate equation and the equivalent rule of strain aging in carbon steel were derived from age hardening curves taken in the temperature range from 170°C to 250°C after a compressive prestrain. The maximum increment in hardness increased as the temperature rose and the prestrain became larger. The process of aging could be expressed by a rate equation of homogeneous and first-order reaction. The equivalent rule of strain aging was formulated in consideration of both the maximum value of hardening and the prestrain. It was shown that the applied rule permitted a precise estimate of equivalent aging time at the aging temperature range of second stage.