Effect of Ferritic Hot Rolling Process on Microstructure and Properties of IF Steel

The effect of ferritic hot rolling process on microstructure and properties of Ti microalloyed IF steel was investigated. The hot rolling-coiling, cold rolling and continuous annealing processes of ferritic zone were physically simulated. The influence of thermal deformation (finishing rolling temperature, coiling temperature) on the structure, texture and forming properties of Ti-If steel was studied through tensile test, EBSD, XRD and other analytical methods. The results showed that the recrystallization occurred after hot rolling and coiling in the ferritic region. Weak α-fiber and weak γ-fiber were obtained in the central layer of hot rolling plates, and the strength of γ-fiber was higher when finished rolling at low temperature. α-fiber and weak γ-fiber were strengthened after cold rolling. After annealing, the α-fiber was weakened and the γ-fiber was strengthened, and the γ-fiber became the main texture. The larger and more uniform grain size and better mechanical properties were obtained by IF steel finished rolling and coiling at high temperature and after continuous annealing, reaching yield strength of 106 MPa, tensile strength of 297 MPa, elongation rate of 52%, n value of 0.26 and r value of 2.3. The hot rolling texture is hereditary. If the more γ-fiber is formed after hot rolling, the more γ-fiber recrystallization texture is formed after cold rolling and annealing.