Application of Coercive Field Measurements to the Evaluation of Recovery and Recrystallization in Cold Rolled Interstitial Free (IF) Steel

The recovery and recrystallization kinetics of a cold rolled interstitial free (IF) steel were studied during isothermal annealing. Magnetic methods based on coercive field measurements, hardness tests and metallography were applied so as to follow the kinetics experimentally. The coercive field measurement technique reveals a higher degree of resolution for monitoring recovery than conventional hardness determination and also allows the recrystallization progress to be monitored. The results obtained are compared to those previously determined for a non-stabilized extra low carbon (ELC) steel. The observed differences are discussed in terms of the presence of microalloying elements, Ti and Nb, which slow down recovery and delay recrystallization.