Microstructure of Low-Carbon Sheet Steel By the ASM Committee on Metallography of Low-Carbon Sheet Steel* Standards for Ten Common Grain Sizes, Rimmed Steel (ASTM) . CONTENTS Effect of Increasing Carton Content, Rimmed Steel Grain Size and Carbide Form, Aluminum-Killed Steel ‘Hot Rolled Structures, Rimmed Steel .... Bffect of Increasing Reductions, Capped Steel Reduction and Recrystallization Normaiizes, Anmealed, and Quenched Structures Galvanized and Aluminum Coatings ...... ‘Chromized Steel; Tin and Porcelain Enamel oatings Surface Conditions (Defects) ae Nonmetallic Inclusions, Rimmed Stee! LOW-CARBON SHEWT STHEL is wide- ly used in a variety of industrial and Consumer products that are fabricated by forming or welding, or both; extra Jow-arbox compositions are well sulted for porcelain enameling, Many of the Properties" of these steels, including formability and suitability for por- alain entimeling, are related to micro structure. Several important variables in composition and. processing that affect "microstructure" are reviewed bpenty in the paragraphs that follow formation regarding the proper les and selection of low-carbon sheet steel the reader is referred to Volume 1 of this Handbook (pages 70 to 87, and 318 to 337); processes and procedures for forming and welding these steels are described In Volume 4 and Volume 8, respectively. Composition. Although the compos!- tions'Gr low-carbon sheet steels ‘vary ‘within only @ narrow range, even small Gifferences in their content of elements other than tron can affect rolling and forming characteristics. Some composi- tions contain less than 030% of elo ments other than iron. However, about 80% of the tonnage of sheet, strip and fin plate rolled is of a composition Dased on ladle analyses, that falls ‘within these ranges: can eat ie estas Boia ete iur ‘God max ‘The normal earbon content of these steels ranges from about 0.06 to 0.12%; the carbon content of steels selected from about 0.04% to as low as 0,002% — the latter being achieved by deearbu- Tization of the sheet. ‘The manganese content of extra-low-earbon composi- tions generally is near the low side of the above-listed range. (Microstructures Of silicon steel sheets of very low car- bon content —Imown' as electrical sheets are iustrated on pages 210 to 213 in this Atlas.) Deoxidation Practice. Low-carbon sheet. steels ‘are rolled to sheet from ingots ‘of rimmed, capped, semikilled or killed. steel ‘in a rammed steel (among the most widely used), the dissolved oxygen is, allowed to evolve as carbon monoxide white the liguid: metal freezes in. the ingot mold. The rimming action lowers the average carbon content of the ingot and causes segregation of the remain- ing carbon, and ot phosphorus and sul- fur, toward the center and top of the ingot during solidification —an action that progresses either until the ingot ig capped or until it freezes over the top ‘aturally. The surface of the ingot con~ fists of skin of iron of high purity, essentially tree of inclusions Chemically capped and mechanically capped ("bottle top") steels are modifi- cations of rimmed steel. Chemically capped steel is allowed to “rim” in the mold for l to 8 minutes: rimming ae tion is then halted by the addition of aluminum shot or ferrostiteon to the top. which also promotes rapid soltditi- cation at the top. Mechanically. capped Stee! Is poured into a specially designed mold with a relatively small opening im the top, Immediately after teeming 4s placed over the top opening of the ndid, and 2s the metal rises It strikes the cap, whereupon the evolution of fis Is halted by the buildup of pressure. ape sel as the navanuage of hay, ing less cegregation tun does norm: rimmed steel, while retaining a some- ‘that thinner skin of igh-puriy ron “The soldiieation of semlialieg steel is controlled in the meld by adeitions of Either ferroriticon or altmainum: killed Steel (or “special Killed” steel) ia treat eqwith an aluminum adallion only ‘Aluminumekilled steel is most widely dtsed for cold rolled sheets that, will be Hubjected to severe forming of dawirg and also, Because of its nonaging ehae~ ‘otoristies, Lor sheets that will be stored for long periods before being formed In fact, prinetpel tdvantages of alu- ‘loum-iiod ot are treedom, from Sram gging and superior formabilty. Eifect’ of Thermal. Mistory. On sot rolled sheet that is falshed above the fransformation-temperature sange, the Tunout cooling practice determines the Carbide characteristics and, to a lesser extent, the grain size vanetons in folling temperatures are also employe {o coutrol grain size and carbide form Gold reatees sheets are generally a= nesled unless a hard temper 1s desiree, Ronualiziag may-also be utilized for hot and cola rolled sheets that will be Doreelain enameled, For furlner infor= Ruation on the antealing and normaltz- Ing of hot aud cold rolled tee! sheet, fee the article on Law-Carbon Stes! Sheet in Volume 1 of this Handbook ditions! information on annealing practice is prevented fn the article that for porcelain enameling may range and deoxidation, a *RoseRT F. Mev, Choirman, Professor Emeritus, Cacnegie Mellon University, AP, Arveanose, Works Metaliergst, Farm Equipment Di Intemational Harvester Co A. H. Beonarrr, Supeivsn:, Mtallgraphic aboistory, Engineering and Reseach Office, Chzysier Corp RM. Buck, Diector of Matevils Development, Metal Resesteh snd Boginetsing Dope, Continental Can Co, Tec: HAROLD GUNA, Super: Wiser, Metllogeaphic Laboratory, Cental Labosstory, Fond) Motor Go: RH. Hey, Principal Research Associ, Armco Stecl Comp, HB Kwtcwvit, Fundamental Resesech Laboratory, United States See orp; Mantis Keripen, Metallurgist, New Holland Div, Sperry Rand heavy cast iron cap Begins on page 1 of Volume 2. Gorp.s FH, LARAR, Assistant to the Manager, Product Research, Homer Research Laboratories, Bethlehem Stel Corps LOGAN Maik, General Supervising Metalurgist, Metallurgcel Department, Inland. Stel Co Pabt G Nelson, Maniger, Production Laboruory, Budd Co K, B RuovOCK, Seoior Metullorsist, Comporate Laboratory, Stanley Works: Menkiut A, Sciutt, Manager, Metallurgical Kwsearch (reused), AO) Smith Coop. |. Sune. Associate Professor of Mtallengy, Genee Motors Instite; Dantes Bt ThotaeNe, Moterisl and Process Major Appliance Laboratories. General Electric C Seertery” Managing Bsitor Metals Handbouk. gine, HOWARD E. — { ae | . j4 ‘Common Graiti Sizes of Low-Carbon Sheet Steel (Specimens Are Rimmed Steel) 100% * ra 00% ita 100% tl Nominal ASTAC grain size, No. 1 Nominal ASTM grain size, No. 2 Nominal ASTM grain size, No, 3 1 fipermen shown ‘has’ avestctiated 2 ipecimen “shown “has'aealciiated 3 _Iapecimen “anown ‘has’ a" calculated iran Se of 11) grain shee of 3) rain shee of 285), ‘Nominal Number of Grains per Square Millimeter (at Tx) and per Square Inch (at 100) for Grain Sizes Shown Tonal namie 155 iat 100 Nominal ASTM grain size Wo. 5 four : oe 5 _Mipectmen show has a" caleus : tated grain sae of 458) eR peer een zen as 9 akan 7a aA cee nar tt ste rg Rs: (oe Aarag Stewie cig cota Nomina! ast 10 nent 48 ct ecots Jo' mtmetg tne Srrure etn ve of mites ert preyed ASTM HIE, togtne wits formas Ti) Fer RGcEg gre ise ado lake of Sad secon she far ail ASTM pretence nambers 108 10 TE, ol Ralf aesHeece: of Increasing. Carbon Contest: on Microstructure of Rimmed Stee! (0085 carbon 00x Pleat “19 (cementite parties also ieregraphs Show that the “wherttcal nate maghineetn 0f Ty tee e200%. x 21 Medium ferrite grain (ASTM No. 7) 22. Fine ferrite grain (ASTM No. 9) 000% «Pera 0003. rat i ? wee ¥ & : oad i Oo fe, J op : : Ee a eee a Gant ule aeiniy Fast, 33 SARA eat ma Gee ee 34 Sees sans eee Goucains cementite parleles equetina, Vela follng zesulvee ba tie foagrse med) ant traces of pearl») {stlon of the cement’ particles,4% nial 250% 06 nial x 43 90% reduction 10% reduetion 42 0% reduction Poor fo colt rotting, the hot band was Anished ht and colled cold. Tho inital, hot roted thietnew was 0.27 in, Longitudinal sactions,Effect of Percentages of Reduction by Cold Rolling on Cappee 1008 Steel (Magnification, 1000X) 9 10% redvetion 2 90% reduction Priston, the At bond was fried hot and eles eld. The tl Ae rl hobs wes 017 t, Lone Nt, ly na10 ‘Reduction and Recrystallization < Ao ts 00x Niel 10%. Extraction pies: 3000% el Enrattion rep uminun-bited steel (008 to 54. Aluminum-kiled steel (003.10 Atumtsues-kled ‘steet (008%. Same a5 56, fully reesyaale @tee c) old rolled to 30% 94 Oose cr end rolea to a6. OD S™Moooe NGO AN es 56 Sete Satins” neice oa teed. reducion and reergstllieed rolled. Hlongated ferrite grtins, “" aserolled ferrite grain boundaries 7 230% © ete! cold rolled 90% ton thickness 5G 010% © steel cold rolled seme as 67, but 59 0.10% C steel cold solled same as sf and 5 ff OOID tm. \Hockwell 30-7 Ei), thea aa Annealed at 1029 ¥ ¢2-C)" for 190 see! Res Due anieatea Wy 1025 F (82 C) tor oo see Faaled at 1029 F (580 C) for TO! sec Recrystal= lization increased ‘0, yeutluation ts dors with reaction tn hate Hized 10%; hardness, Rockwell 2027 73. hes Wo Rockwell 20-1 70, NS SAB lobe stexl cold rolled w 70% reduction. G] Same a= G0 except stee! was heated slowly GD Same ax 60 exiept steel was hated rapidly ‘hun tent ewnemntsion eleetzon micrographs (G0'P, or BT. G, per hour) v0 900 F call ©) Uo igod "74 ¢) ind old cor min. Die Plonsted Tervie cells Wight) Surrounded and air cooled to achieve prrtial recovery. cme locationeinee ieerystalliged “gratis, are shown feral with exireiiey high density of cis- dlsioration networks are visible in the subgrain evolving into a recovered steuciure consisting of SF ocuesd bs cold rolling. ferrite structure "Thihefoll electron micrograph, small subgraias, ‘Thin-foll electron ‘micTOsrap.Various Normalized, Annedled, and Quenithed’ Structures i 4% ne 1000 4% mts 1000% 4% mit a0 ‘Ajuninumled 1008 steel normalized GA Same, as 69 except process annealed at G5 "Same, ns 68 except steel wns proces tn 63 Mer OE col rauction, “Anal twas 64 Sie a8 Rionnmiudie’Werride ©5 Series"; $2op'e"Hot Cy alee fuceuaty (Gs in. The fei structure contains ne struetUre enotains tome fine pearkte and tome ‘The Terrie siruetare comta(as, come, comell its Dratte Clark srean) atthe grat boundaries, Spheroldied cementite at seas botmdaties, """ juttices tse wrain Docldaris ‘s a% : é Be &. = i on ad ay foiled at ios F tics. cod 7O7 Seine coidrolied ihe sheet was ©8 Stert” wes colic 'at iano O9 Tasn'e (ed Cy, cold rolled 10%, Minely spheroidized cementite. rite, mnitite particles, pe ie, ferrite and coarse cementite, cooled slowly. Ferrite and peériite. Id In, thick, eustenitived at 2670 F910 G) and 7] - Same ws, mierograpA 70 exe n lerosirueture is acleular Toy-catbon tanriensite leary" auows He weleulse idw-eachon martobsiie snot as12 Galvanized Coatings and Aluminum Coatings ‘Galvanized 1006. ste wiped. ‘This Galvanized 1008 steel, “galvannesled”, This Galvanizee 1006 stecl, “regular galvanized” 73 E'the lgstes toring alloy Conting 108 Spain like that fn inveomats ely of Shes citing is free aine with one 2 ef aq %4 approx); fe contains no free'zinc. iron-zise coinpounds ‘with to free aide, Wut, 8! compounds a Plating interfect. Weight of tre (ght layer at top is copper, to preserve edge) 09 be ber square f00t, the coating Ss Heavier.” outings 108 ‘oe bee sauace fool = Galvanized 1006 steel culvert stock). Zhe 7G Galvanized 1006 * Gatvanted 1008 steek (culvert stock 72 Coating Bpven feces Wan regain: gat 76 SONNE, 8 3 77 ‘Seetcetions in this heassy ealvatoed cout: Manized” (see 74) and conrains much more free more free Aine than any of the othees shown, ng consist of crystals of Fes, which osehnaie Blac. Coating welsh, 213 or per square foot." Gouling weight 4 cf ber square 1000 {Gn dross im the galvanizing bath, 3 1008 sve) witn type 2 ot esp. altamsnnns 1003 steel with type 2 hot dip alumimim 1008 steel wiih type 1 hot dip alumsmam 28 ratiae ‘Tis ie etstuminimsaiicon alloy 79 contine’ “Thin casting forms "a layer ot 80 coating ‘rhe coat he, wich esentinly feeting Wis! forms Al-St and AL-SicFe laver®. sentially ore Al and slayer’ of Al-te alloy. the same aé that shown if 78, hss been exposed Gop ie portom: a nickel aller, Aisi alloy, A/-Si- Upper layer’ here w-pure Al with scattered to elevated. tempernt Pealiny, ava the se! sheet attics of acre; lower layer Ww Alcee: for'the surface heey ir, bus accounting cichtng) ‘aanChromized Steel; ‘Tin and Porcelain Enamel Coatings 13 AS Ue Ri Bee Vols % i t A i 10s 2% otal sox 2% nkal 20x Perataital 273% Chromed 1000 steel, Statnless (20e Cr, Same ss G1 but at higher magnineation, Chhromfzed 1006 steel. Chromium atoms 1 Geri layer at eieei sirince was formed 82 hich Shows interaiguion that occurs at 8S ste esl by gaseons A ‘Bore deposited onthe steel by powder compacting then difusion annealing, interface between che coating and the steal. transfer and then difited to form CYLPE layer 85 Replica electron’ miorograph of acidcbath Teepitea electron. micrograph of surf Hncplates. 010% "Csieeh, which shows y ovlentad cvstals of Fests over larger, three maces of growth of the acieular crystals friend cxystals of Fest of Festa on the" Stee! base 100% Nia 100% Ae polished crt stoned) sso Bytrn-ion-carbon stee! (o0ie . approx) BG Same as #7 but double pororiain enameled, AQ) Same ms 87 except at higuer magniseation, 87 ria tinge costing of wnice poreanin 8S with'a'dark-oite ground costing (dark inye ©9 Shh shows the tend at Se eeeteaad ‘enamel (dark infer above: steel'sirface) er) ands white cover ‘coating (gras layer). snterfage berween the ="sel ana ‘the e™miins4 Stretcher Strains, Orange Peel, Skin Lamination, Arrowheads, Rolled-In Scale Fiumed 1008 steel with steetener strains (also called Liiders, ‘Rimmed i008 steel pert, formed Same as 03. Magnified cross see- S20 Hitman ‘oc Pbert Tine on thevsurtoee arcerraalt cf 1 from 'ahect wilt tubluce Souk: 92 fan stlys anneranes crt Se7 stretching the sheet just beyond the yleid point dur ross Called orange’ Det Bee 92 ‘ace grain that essed orange peel 8 posed not ets 2X Not potiehee not etoned ‘Actual size gg Muminum-) es, see), G4 Alyeinuen-ile, Hot rolled 108 ge) sheet O55 Sectlon teroggh an “arrowhead” detest @ruwane guaity, itn en open akin lamina. pce igen ag oe ‘Oxidized and decarburied siver, Won that appeared th the surface after drawing. centration of! “arrowhead” defects Bee 8 rolled back into surface, eased cae detects A Foie 1008 spel sheet. The surtace dex eae 96 it at higher magnification ame 1s $6 and 97, Magnified cross section Fee town ierriit aie that wax rolled 97 Sich Shows the Gavkel shading and ai: 98 ‘oh ihe vuttace Meleet shows te hots shee at te hot mit ‘Bee Bivand 98. ferent texture of the mall scale: Sew 38. rmit Sone Impressed isto the sheet mire,Ingot-Scab¥ Sliver, Roll-Slippage Streaks, Pits From Rolled-In Sand 15 — . ee pales, not etree Actual sire Nita 500% (God rolled 3008 sivel sheet. Sliver on surface, from an ingot aeab, i 1 QQ) Same at $0. Créss section through adhering part ot silver Darlly free of, and partiy weided to, the eect shows atin fim of oxide separating it from te sheet, ols et etches 28% of scat size Nal ital Cold Tolle "1098 steel with, Tongitndnal Same as 101, At moderate magn! ‘Game as 101 and 102, After light WOU Senta on sttnct Uial wece cased by 102 Subs, Ju, ot moderne maemutee 103 fer the murface:atreak ‘reveals 2° Dpare betneen vols m the tandems nil ture that typical of ail streaks on the sheet. etching afea of very fine grain at coo ial with um Same ts 104, cross seston ¢arough one fame a5 104 and 19; Polson Som wives pis subeecuestiy shown 105 Sf e"pte wdowe's erin at mad rofea 106 Sane th. "ated Pas aan wd be eased by rod in and ie BOS) dno the snes during temper oling 1p from senld nt tse winealing itsales ot tees) 000% ‘Manganese oxide, Gack constituent) with 107 i Sulfide tails ight constit- for thin sagers of sande slshos inet ence) 1000 10 Hon gride Geo) wiih manganese oxide (Mino) causing interne! veflection, Tals ‘probably manganese sulfice CM) ‘A poised (not etched) 1e00% Mixed suifdes of iron and manganese 108 onisinfag few canal cafe SpoUs ny dork area at edges OF melusions @ Glassy plobules of SIO: showing internal 111 Siecle "Under povaised' Light these lobules prodice an optical eros polished oot etched 1000% 114 A,complex mixture consisting of alumtoa (aloo "bereits “areoalGo, sllea (Si0.) Ld iniliie (SALO-28i00 16 Nonmetallic Inclusions Commonly Present in Rimmed Low-Carbon Steels a rs A eye a sn 100 Ree Pane anera Pa 1s polished (ne ached) 1000% 112 The glassy inclusion at lett 8 S10.) the iregulaz-shape inclusions euove it ad at right re FOS!» a patna inc etches 120% "These srregulas-shape masaee are typi! 115 GPrshasory brick: Under polarised Bent tuey cote seas bitten gay se