Relationship between microstructure and tensile properties of a pearlitic steel

A SWRS82B steel was employed in this study and its heat treatment was as follows: the austenized steel specimens were preplaced in a low-temperature salt-bath for several seconds,and then the specimens were isothermally treated in a high-temperature salt-bath.This heat treatment was designed to increase supercooling degree of the pearlitie transformation and the nucleation rate of pearlite,refining the pearlite colony.The relationship between microstructure parameters of pearlite and tensile properties of the steel was investigated.The results show that the strength of pearlitic steel is dependent on interlamellar space of pearlite.The ductility is controlled by grain size.The smaller the grain size is,the higher the ductility is.For the steel with similar grain size,the finer the pearlite colony is,the higher the reduction of area is.