Description

Pearlitic steel with low cementite volume fraction was developed for wiredrawing without patenting. Such a microstructure was achieved by modifying chemical composition and the corresponding manufacturing conditions. The ductility of new steel was enhanced by a reduction of the cementite volume fraction and pro-eutectoid ferrite. With enhanced ductility, the wire rod was directly drawn from 5.5 mm to 0.96 mm in diameter without wire breakage and delamination. The strength of new steel wire rod was comparable to that of conventional carbon steel wire rods. In addition, elongation to failure larger than 6% was obtained in the wire with the diameter of 0.96 mm after the appropriate bluing treatment.