Effect of high magnetic field on the pearlite transformation of Al-containing steel

Comparative studies were carried out on the effect of high magnetic field on the pearlite transformation of Al-containing high carbon steels under the furnace slow cooling condition. For 1.37Al-bearing high carbon steel, the amount of pearlite was only 6 ± 3 vol.-% without magnetic field, whereas full pearlite was obtained under a 12-T high magnetic field. For free-Al high carbon steel, no pearlite transformation occurred, whereas lots of bainite were formed under a 12-T high magnetic field. In addition, the interlamellar spacing of pearlite increased from 100 ± 7 to 112 ± 18 nm by the application of a 12-T magnetic field. It has been proved that the pearlite transformation of high carbon steel was promoted by high magnetic field and by the addition of aluminium. This is part of a thematic issue on Pearlitic Steel Wires.