Deformation Behaviors of Flat Rolled Wire in Twinning-Induced Plasticity Steel

The influence of room temperature flat rolling on microstructure, mechanical properties, and shape change in twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel wire has been investigated to understand the deformation behaviors of flat rolled wire in TWIP steel and to apply TWIP steels to flat rolled wire products. Numerical simulation, hardness test, and EBSD techniques were used to analyze the distribution of strain, mechanical properties, and microstructure of flat rolled TWIP steel wire. The shape of flat rolled TWIP steel wire was also evaluated and compared with plain carbon steels having low strain hardening rate. A very different behavior of hardness, strain, twinning, and KAM value was observed with area of flat rolled wire due to the different stress state and strain with area of wire. The center area had the maximum twin density, KAM value, effective strain, and hardness; whereas free surface area had the minimum values. The hardness inhomogeneity factor (HIF) along the horizontal direction was much higher in comparison with that of the vertical direction. The maximum HIF value occurred at the specific reduction in height, i.e., 27%. This means HIF value gradually increased and then decreased with reduction in height, which is inconsistent with the results of plain carbon steel and Cu wire. The lateral spread and width of contact area of flat rolled TWIP steel wire were lower than those of plain carbon steels, indicating that material properties such as strain hardening exponent are crucial parameters that influence the shape of flat rolled wire products. Graphic Abstract