1975 Volume 61 Issue 9 Pages 2238-2245
This paper presents the results of an investigation performed to determine the effect of free nitrogen (solute nitrogen in matrix) content on the tensile ductilities of as-patented eutectoid carbon steels with reference to the prior austenite grain sizes. The results obtained are as follows.
(1) Reducing the free nitrogen content of as-patented steels improves the tensile ductilities under the condition of constant prior austenite grain size.
(2) The refinement of prior austenite grain size also improves the ductilities of as-patented steels with constant free nitrogen content.
(3) These effects mentioned in (1) and (2) are remarkable for fine pearlitic steels transformed at relatively low temperatures but tend to be less notable as the transformation temperature rises.
These results are discussed in relation to metallurgical structure.