Optimization of the Annealing Parameters for Improved Tensile Properties in Cold Drawn 0.12 wt% C Steel

doi:10.4236/eng.2013.511106

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Engineering, 2013, 5, 870-876

Published Online November 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/eng)

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/eng.2013.511106

Open Access ENG

Optimization of the Annealing Parameters for Improved

Tensile Properties in Cold Draw n 0.12 wt% C Steel

Nurudeen A. Raji, Oluleke O. Oluwole

Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Received July 29, 2013; revised August 29, 2013; accepted September 7, 2013

Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is

properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Drawn low carbon steel is characterized by brittle fracture. These defects are associated with the poor ductility and high

strain hardening due to the cold work. There is a need therefore to determine optimum heat treatment parameters that

could ensure improved toughness and ductility. Determining the optimum annealing parameters ensures valued recrys-

tallization and also minimizes grain growth that could be detrimental to the resulting product. 40% and 55% cold drawn

steels were annealed at temperatures 500˚C to 650˚C at intervals of 50˚C and soaked for 10 to 60 minutes at interval of

10 minutes to identify the temperature range and soaking time where optimum combination of properties could be ob-

tained. Tensile test and impact toughness experiments were done to determine the required properties of the steel. Po-

lynomial regression analysis was used to fit the properties relationship with soaking time and temperatures and the clas-

sical optimization technique was used to determine the minimum soaking time and temperature required for improved

properties of the steel. Annealing treatment at 588˚C for 11 minutes at grain size of 44.7 m can be considered to be the

optimum annealing treatment for the 40% cold drawn 0.12 wt% C steel and 539˚C for 17 minutes at grain size of 19.5

m for the 55% cold drawn 0.12 wt% C steel.

Keywords: Annealing; Steel; Cold Drawn; Soaking Time; Strength; Optimization

1. Introduction

Structural change occurs during cold drawn deformation

of metals in which the grains forming the basic matrix of

the metal are gradually stretched in the direction of the

principal deformation with directional arrangement of the

crystallographic lattice. The drawing process is consid-

ered to be one of the most effective and flexible methods

to improve surface finish, to obtain precise dimension

and to obtain the specified mechanical properties of a

product [1]. The individual grain of a polycrystalline

materials changes relative to the direction of applied

stress during the deformation which is distributed het-

erogeneously among the individual grains [2]. The ex-

tension of grains in the drawing direction also occurs

[3,4]. A typical feature of such deformed structure is

anisotropy of the metal mechanical properties [5]. An

initially isotropic material responds by developing ani-

sotropy when subjected to inelastic deformation. The

metal is strain hardened with the strength and hardness

increasing with increasing degree of the cold-work and

reducing ductility and impact value. Also unstable defect

structures are retained after the cold deformation includ-

ing accumulation of dislocation [6].

Effects of such cold work on the properties of poly-

crystalline structures have been studied extensively

[7-17]. It has been established that cold working and

subsequent aging enhances the hardness and tensile

strength (UTS) of the material but significantly deterio-

rate the ductility and impact energy [18]. The poor im-

pact property could be as a result of inhomogeneous de-

formation within some parts of the material and high

stress concentrations at points where the dislocations are

concentrated. Impact of cold deformation and annealing

on the mechanical properties of HSLA steel had been

studied [19]. Several studies follow to investigate the

effect of deformation and treatment on the properties of

materials. Finite element method was used [20] to deter-

mine the proportion of contribution of die radius, blank

holder force and friction coefficient in the deep-drawing

process. The study provided an insight into the deep

drawing of stainless steel blank sheet. The quality of the

N. A. RAJI, O. O. OLUWOLE 871

drawn part was found to depend on the forming condi-

tions, the optimal value of process parameters and their

favorable combination. Investigation on the mechanical

properties variation in drawn wires of high-alloy steel

and special alloys for optimum ranges of deformation has

been determined [21]. The non-uniformity of properties

on the cross-section of drawn wire was found to depend

individually on the grade of the drawn material.

Mechanical properties distributions on the cross sec-

tions of drawn products were investigated [22]. Specific

effective strain non-uniformities were found to influence

the distribution of mechanical properties in the final

product of the drawn bars. It was noticed that the non-

uniformity of mechanical properties in bars before de-

formation and different character of strain hardening of

the bars after deformation was contributing factor to the

influenced mechanical properties of the resulting product.

It is also evident that the rate of deformation as defined

by the die angle contributes to the state of the non-uni-

formity of the bar. Strain hardening is the work harden-

ing effect experienced by a metal which is deformed

plastically. It is a phenomenon whereby a ductile metal

becomes harder and stronger as it is plastically deformed

[23]. The strain hardening causes increase in the internal

stress of the material structure. The increase in the inter-

nal energy is associated with the increase in the disloca-

tion density of the metal structure due to the plastic de-

formation. Other defects such as vacancies and intersti-

tials could also generate due to the deformation [24,25].

Strengthening occurring at large strain plastic deforma-

tions has been discussed both experimentally [26] and

theoretically [27] in search of the relevant microscopic

strengthening processes. The strain hardening effect was

found to be due mainly to the movement of dislocation

within the metal crystal structure as deformation pro-

gresses.

It is possible to influence considerably a complex of

mechanical properties of particular steel by suitable

combination of size of previous cold deformation and

parameters of annealing properties. There is a need there-

fore to optimize so that the heat treatment process pa-

rameters can be defined to achieve best combination of

the metal properties [28,29]. Determining the optimum

annealing parameters can ensure valued recrystallization

and also minimize grain growth that could be detrimental

to the nails. The grain growth could be minimized by

doing the heat treatment at the lowest possible tempera-

ture and time. The optimum combination of the mini-

mum soaking time and temperature of annealing could

achieve recrystallized structures required for the im-

proved mechanical properties.

There have been several attempts to optimize heat

treatment parameters towards achieving improved prop-

erties of materials [30-37]. The several methods em-

ployed include the classical optimization technique to

quantify the mechanical property relationship with heat

treatment parameters [33,34]. The technique couples the

classical curve fitting with data obtained from experi-

ment to form regression equations after which optimiza-

tion of the low temperature impact properties was ob-

tained. In [31] evolutionary algorithm procedure was

attempted to optimize the heat treatment process for 7175

aluminum alloy. The procedure was compared with the

classical optimization technique with the classical me-

thod found to converge to local optimum solution as

against convergence of the evolutionary algorithm pro-

cedures to global optimal solution of heat treatment. Si-

milar attempt was done [32] using artificial neural net-

work combined with genetic algorithm to determine the

optimum heat treatment parameters for the 7175 alumi-

num alloy.

2. Methods

2.1. Experiments

The low carbon steel wire used for this study was ob-

tained from Nigeria Wire Industry Ltd, Ikeja, Nigeria.

The samples were cold drawn at 40% and 55% degree of

deformation and then annealed in a muffle furnace [38]

at temperature range of 500˚C - 650˚C at interval of 50˚C

for soaking time of 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes,

40 minutes, 50 minutes and 60 minutes for each tem-

perature. The annealed samples were subjected to tensile

and impact toughness test [38]. The influence of the

soaking time and annealing temperature on these proper-

ties was optimized by formulating the dependency of the

properties on the phase field order parameter of the re-

crystallization kinetics for temperature range of 500˚C to

600˚C in order to avoid full recrystallization of all the

sample grains beyond this temperature range.

2.2. Regression Analysis

The recrystallization kinetics was obtained for the sam-

ples as presented in [39]. Sets of mathematical equations

are developed to represent the behavior of the yield

strength







, tensile strength





and impact tough-

ness







to recrystallized fraction volume







obtained from the phase field model using the regression

analysis of the nth degree polynomial model which is

generally given as;





01 21

xCCxCXCX CX



  (1)

C represents the polynomial coefficients.

The polynomial regression model is used to model

non-linear relationship between the independent variable







and the dependent variables



follows;

YTImT



Open Access ENG

N. A. RAJI, O. O. OLUWOLE

872







YTImT

ffE





 

 

(2)

where ,,

YTImT



are the yield strength, tensile strength

and impact toughness respectively and



represents the

fraction recrystallized grain evolution.

The polynomial regression method was also used to

develop the soaking time







relationship with the

phase field order parameter



as a function,







.

These relations were used to optimize the annealing pa-

rameters required for improved desired properties of the

cold drawn 0.12 wt% C steel.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Mechanical Properties

Figures 1-12 show the properties dependence on the

soaking time of annealing of the cold drawn steel for the

20%, 25%, 40% and 55% degree of deformation an-

nealed at temperature within the range of 500˚C - 650˚C.

Annealing of cold drawn 0.12 wt% C steel influences

the strength and impact toughness of the steel considera-

bly. The yield strength of the annealed samples improved

when compared with the as-received control sample (CS)

of the steel for all the 40% and 55% degrees cold drawn

steel. The yield strength however decreases with in-

creasing annealing temperature as shown in Figure 1 and

7. A better improvement of the yield strength is observed

100

200

300

400

500

CS6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

Yield strength, MPa

Soakin

time, sec.

500 deg.C

550 deg. C

600 deg.C

650 deg.C

Figure 1. Yield strength response of annealed 40% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

100

120

6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

% Response of yield strength

Soaking time, sec.

500deg.C

550deg.C

600deg.C

650deg.C

Figure 2. % Response of yield strength of 40% cold drawn

0.12 wt% C steel annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

200

400

600

800

CS6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

Tensile strength, MPa

Soaking time, sec.

500 deg.C

550 deg. C

600 deg.C

650 deg.C

Figure 3. Tensile strength response of annealed 40% cold

drawn 0.12wt% C annealed at temp. 500deg. C to 650 deg.

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

% Response of tensile strength

Soaking time, sec.

500deg.C

550deg.C

600deg.C

650deg.C

Figure 4. % Response of tensile strength of 40% cold drawn

0.12 wt% C steel annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

CS6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

Impact toughness, J

Soaking time, sec.

500 deg.C

550 deg. C

600 deg.C

650 deg.C

Figure 5. Impact toughness response of annealed 40% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

6001200180024003000 3600

% response of impact

toughness

Soaking time, sec.

500deg.C

550deg.C

600deg.C

650deg.C

Figure 6. % Response of impact toughness of 40% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C steel annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650

deg. C.

Open Access ENG

N. A. RAJI, O. O. OLUWOLE 873

100

200

300

400

500

600

CS6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

Yield strength, MPa

soaking time, sec.

500 deg.C

550 deg. C

600 deg.C

650 deg.C

Figure 7. Yield strength response of annealed 55% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

100

150

200

250

6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

% response of yield strength

Soaking time, sec.

500deg.C

550deg.C

600deg.C

650deg.C

Figure 8. % Response of yield strength of 55% cold drawn

0.12 wt% C steel annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

CS60012001800 2400 30003600

Tensile strength, MPa

Soaking time, sec.

500 deg.C

550 deg. C

600 deg.C

650 deg.C

Figure 9. Tensile strength response of annealed 55% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

% Response of tensile strength

Soaking time, sec

500deg.C

550deg.C

600deg.C

650deg.C

Figure 10. % Response of tensile strength of 55% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C steel annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650

deg. C.

CS6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

Impact toughness, J

Soaking time, sec.

500 deg.C

550 deg. C

600 deg.C

650 deg.C

Figure 11. Impact toughness response of annealed 55% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650 deg.

-50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

6001200 1800 2400 3000 3600

% Response of Impact

toughness

Soaking time, sec.

500deg.C

550deg.C

600deg.C

650deg.C

Figure 12. % Response of impact toughness of 55% cold

drawn 0.12 wt% C steel annealed at temp. 500 deg. C to 650

deg. C.

for the annealing temperature of 500˚C and 550˚C be-

tween the soaking time of 10 minutes and 30 minutes

after which the rate at which the yield strength increases

for the treated samples reduces with increasing tempera-

ture of annealing for both degrees of cold drawn defor-

mation as shown in Figures 2 and 8. The yield strength

of the 40% cold drawn steel is higher at 650˚C compared

to when annealed at 500˚C at soaking time above 30 mi-

nutes.

The impact toughness was also observed to improve

considerably for the 40% degrees of cold drawn steels

when annealed at temperature between 500˚C and 650˚C

as shown in Figure 5. However the impact toughness of

the 55% cold drawn steel annealed at 650˚C reduces be-

low the impact toughness of the control sample but with

improved yield strength. The 40% cold drawn steel an-

nealed at 500˚C exhibits increasing rate of reduction in

impact toughness at soaking time between 10 minutes

and 30 minutes after which it slows down between 40

minutes and 60 minutes.

The tensile strength of the annealed samples reduces

considerable for all the degrees of cold drawn steel an-

nealed between 500˚C and 650˚C. The tensile strength of

the annealed cold drawn 0.12 wt% C steels drops con-

siderably with increasing soaking time for both 40% and

55% cold drawn steel as shown in Figures 3 and 9.

Open Access ENG

N. A. RAJI, O. O. OLUWOLE

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3.2. Optimization

It has evidently been shown as discussed above that the

heat treatment of cold drawn 0.12 wt% C steel consider-

able influences the mechanical properties of the steel

such as its yield strength, tensile strength and impact

toughness. Optimum annealing parameters could be ob-

tained for improved properties of the steel. The mathe-

matical functions of the soaking time determined from

recrystallization kinetics and the properties relation with

the fraction recrystallized are obtained from the hardness

test for each of the degree of cold drawn deformation and

annealing temperature using the polynomial regression

methods. The values of the coefficients are obtained as

given in Tables 1 and 2.

The optimal values of the fraction recrystallized is es-

timated from the first derivatives of the property equa-

tions and used to determine the required time for the

500˚C, 550˚C and 600˚C. An objective function is for-

mulated from the values of the fraction recrystallized

with the corresponding temperature value. The classical

technique is used to optimize the objective function en-

suring that the necessary and sufficient conditions are

satisfied. Table 3 shows the optimized results for the

different degree of cold drawn deformation.

4. Conclusion

Heat treatment of 40% and 55% cold drawn 0.12 wt% C

steel was investigated. The cold drawn steel samples

were annealed at temperature range of 500˚C to 650˚C

for soaking time between 10 minutes and 60 minutes.

Table 1. Coefficients of property relation with recrystallized

fraction for annealed 40% cold drawn 0.12 wt% c steel.

40% cold drawn steel annealed at various temperature

Property Temp. Co C

1 C

2 C







148.67 982.7 −965.53 -









406.97 200.12 −196.66 -



Imp



13.492 10.632 −10.416 -







500˚C

−13,688 73,198 −121,842 68,001







−2730.6 7310.7 −4308.3 -









−1602.8 4762.3 −2806.5 -



Imp



−45.046 138.41 −81.481 -







550˚C

3673.7 1E + 06 −2E + 06 634,921







−27,249 8109 −30,600 -









−16,425 35,400 −18,608 -



Imp



−363.96 791.5 −416.67 -







600˚C

675,839 −1E + 06 762,431 -

Table 2. Coefficients of property relation with recrystallized

fraction for annealed 55% cold drawn 0.12 wt% c steel.

55% cold drawn steel annealed at various temperature

PropertyTemp. Co C

1 C

2 C









148.67982.7 −965.53-









406.97200.12 −196.66-





Imp



13.49210.632 −10.416-







500˚C

−13,68873,198 −121,842 68,001









−2730.67310.7 −4308.3-









−1602.84762.3 −2806.5-





Imp



−45.046138.41 −81.481-







550˚C

3673.71E + 06 −2E + 06634,921









−27,2498109 −30,600-









−16,42535,400 −18,608-





Imp



−363.96791.5 −416.67-







600˚C

675,839 −1E + 06 762,431-

Table 3. Optimized results for heat treat cold drawn 0.12

wt% C steel.

Optimized results of annealing for cold drawn 0.12 wt% C steel

% degree of deformation 40 55

Annealing temperature (deg. C) 588 539

Soaking time (minutes) 11 17

The heat treatment influences the strength and impact

toughness of both cold drawn steels samples considera-

bly. The yield strength and impact toughness of the sam-

ples for both degrees of cold drawn deformed steels in-

creases with increasing soaking time at the annealing

temperature range of 500˚C to 650˚C. The rate of in-

creasing yield strength and impact toughness however

reduces with increasing soaking time. A better improve-

ment of these properties is observed at soaking time

range of 10 minutes to 30 minutes for both degrees of

cold drawn steel samples. The tensile strength however

reduces with increasing soaking time of annealing at

temperature range of 500˚C to 650˚C. The rate of reduc-

tion of the tensile strength increases at soaking time be-

tween 40 minutes and 60 minutes. The optimal heat

treatment parameters are obtained for the annealed 40%

cold drawn steel samples at 588˚C soaked for 11 minutes

and for the 55% cold drawn steel samples at 539˚C

soaked for 17 minutes.

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