Effect of Mn and Ti Addition on Strength and Strain Hardening Behaviour of Pearlite

The effect of Mn and Ti addition on the microstructure, strength as well as strain hardening behavior of near eutectoid steels was studied after isothermal transformation to pearlite. In this paper, five near eutectoid steel samples having different Mn and Ti concentrations were heated to the austenitization temperature (T_A) of 900°C and held there for 20 min, and then cooled rapidly to the isothermal holding temperature (T_i) of 660°C. Finally, the samples were cooled to room temperature for microstructural analysis and also to undertake tensile testing for strain hardening analysis. The Ti addition in steel is found to enhance the ductility and strain hardening properties of pearlitic steel significantly because of its effect on the microstructure. From the present investigation, it may be confirmed that although a very small amount of Ti present in the solid solution of near eutectoid steels does not have high influence on the yield and tensile strength as compared to Mn added steels, but it significantly increases the strain to failure indicating the greater ability of these steels to be drawn into wires.