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