Experimental study on tensile deformation process of graphitized high carbon steel sheet

As the object for the study, graphitized high-carbon steel sheet with a carbon content of 0.66 % was used, the tensile test of this sheet using a universal testing (breaking) machine was performed; as well as in-situ observation of the microstructure in the process of tensile deformation of this sheet using in-situ technology of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was made. The test results show that the main mechanical properties in different directions of tested graphitized high-carbon steel sheet are relatively the same, that is, for a tensile sample of different directions, the ratio of the yield strength σ0,2 to the tensile strength σв is approximately 0.73; the strain hardening index n is approximately 0.24; the plastic deformation coefficient r is approximately 0.83. This indicates that this sheet did not exhibit significant anisotropy. In the process of tensile, deformation of the specimen is mainly developed from local plastic deformation of the graphite inclusions to the total deformation in the deformation zone of the sample; with the increase of displacement, micro-gap between the graphite inclusion and ferrite grain along the direction of the axis of tensile gradually formed and propagated along the direction perpendicular to the axis of tensile; number of slip lines in the ferrite matrix gradually increased, and the distance between them gradually decreases; when the sample breaks, in the fracture large dimple with the core of graphite inclusion and small dimples in the ferrite appears. And the ferrite matrix near the fracture is covered with slip lines, this shows that the ferritic matrix underwent severe plastic deformation before breaking.