On the Development of {111} Grains Through the Annealing in Cold Rolled Cu-bearing Low Carbon Steel Sheet

Abstract

A study has been made of the development of {111} grains through the annealing at slow heating in 1% Cu-bearing steels with two carbon levels, 0.04% and 0.002%. At the early stage of recrystallization, Cu precipitates of the 0.002%C steel disperse very finely compared with that of 0.04%C steel. These very fine precipitates of 0.002%C steel strongly inhibit the recrystallization of both {111} and {001} grains, resulting in the development of weak textures in sheet. Comparatively coarse precipitates of 0.04%C steel will allow the {111} grains to recrystallize easily, and recrystallized {111} grains grow into unrecrystallized {001} grains at the later stage of recrystallization, finally the strong {111} texture is developed in sheet. Such a difference in recrystallization behavior in Cu-bearing steel should be attributed to the dispersion size of Cu precipitates due to carbon content.