Microstructure Characterization of Low Carbon Steel used for Galvanization

摘要

The present study deals with a low carbon steel containing 0.09%C (weight%). This steel is produced by Trifisoud El-elma-Setif -Algeria as wires and used for galvanization. Tensile tests are carried out on the material in as received conditions, i.e. before, after deformation and after galvanization. Optical microscope and Secondary Electron Microscope (SEM) are used for microstructure characterization of the material. The results show that the initial microstructure is ferrite -pearlite with 11μm of ferrite grain size. SEM observations show that the galvanization layer is not regular and it thickness varies between 5 and 13μm. It has been found that the mechanical properties are affected by the rate of deformation. The annealing treatment at 530°C for different time follows the Avrami law. The two constants in Avrami law (n, k) are determined. The obtained results are compared with other published works.