Rapid annealing of dual phase steels

Heat treatments simulating rapid and traditional continuous annealing cycles were performed on a range of steel compositions in order to produce dual and multiphase microstructures. Detailed quantitative and qualitative microstructural analysis was used to aid the description of the transformation behaviour in each steel. The tensile properties were related to microstructure, the effects of which are discussed with respect to strength and ductility, continuous yielding behaviour, and work hardening. An empirical model was used to assess the relative strengthening effects of second phase constituents in multiphase steels. (C) 1998 The Institute of Materials.