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Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 352 – 356

Structural and Physical Aspects of Construction Engineering

Damage Pearlitic Steel in Operation

Mária Mihalikováa,*, Anna Liškováa, Mária Hagarováa, Jana Cervováa
a
Institute of Materials, Faculty of Metallurgy, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia

Abstract

This paper deals high carbon pearlitic steel wires (patented wires), which used as reinforcement in vehicle tires. The aim is to
achieve the production of fine-grained pearlite microstructure. The theoretical part deals with a patent in the production structure
as well as the patented brass plated wires. In the experimental focused on the microstructure and macroscopic analysis, followed
by degradation of the wire, from an evaluation of the mechanical properties, determination of the depth of decarburization and the
detection of corrosion in operation.
© 2017
© 2017The TheAuthors.
Authors. Published
Published by Elsevier
by Elsevier Ltd. is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
Ltd. This
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the issue editors.
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of SPACE 2016
Keywords: patented wire; coat; mechanical properties; corrosion

1. Introduction

High carbon pearlitic steel wires are usually twisted together to form the steel cords used for truck/bus radial (TBR)
tires due to their outstanding strength as well as acceptable ductility. The steel wires are generally produced via several
steps of cold drawing from wires containing 0.6–0.9 wt. % C and patenting to produce a fine pearlite microstructure.
In response to the market trend toward lighter, higher performance tires, the strength required for the steel wires has
increased [1-5]. The patented wires are steel cords with a brass coating, to be used as reinforcement in tires. Their use
is an effective solution to the construction of the tires mainly because tires can affect the cords reach excellent
properties. The basic semi-finished product for the production of steel cord is a steel wire with a diameter of 6 to 0.2
mm. Steel cord consists of steel wires coated with brass [6]. Before the drawing process that result in achieving a
specific cross section of the wire, the steel wire in the electrolytic thin layer of brass coating.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +421 055 602 2538; fax: +421 055 602 2769
E-mail address: maria.mihalikova@tuke.sk

1877-7058 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of SPACE 2016
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2017.05.348
 Mária Mihaliková et al. / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 352 – 356 353

The final coating thickness is about 0.2 —m. Steel cord gives the mechanical properties UTS (ultimate
tensilestrength) 3000-4000 MPa, the brass coating provides adhesion to the rubber during vulcanization [7-10].
The term “patented wire” refers to a particular process through which steel wire is strengthened to particular
specifications, rather than an actual type of wire. Sometimes called “improved plow steel” or “extra improved plow
steel” wire, patented wire is high-carbon, high-tensile steel wire that has been put through a special heat-treatment
process for added durability and strength. For this reason, patented wire is popular for use in the manufacturing of
wire rope and high tensile applications [11].

2. Experiment

Eutectoid steel was used as a specimen in this study. The chemical composition of the steel is shown in Table 1.
Steel wires were fabricated by the following procedure: 1st drawing (I 5.5–3.05 mm), 2nd drawing (I 3.05–1.41 mm),
patenting and final drawing (I1.41–0.18 mm). The patenting consisted of ausutenitizing at 1000 °C for 22 s followed
by the isothermal transformation for 10 s in a lead bath at 600 °C. The final steel wires were annealed at temperatures
ranging from 100 to 500 °C for 60 s and then cooled down to room temperature in air [1].

Table 1.The chemical composition of the steel.

C Si Cr Mn Ni Cu S P

w [%] 0.7-0.75 0.15-0.3 0.08 0.46-0.6 0.08 0.08 0.015 0.012

Experimental samples were patented wire of diameter 1.98 mm and 1.34 mm coated and uncoated, and the twisted
cord made up of nine patented wires.

2.1. Metallographic analysis

To establish patented wire degradation in the environment of use SARS [0.01 m moll of HNO3; 1 m moll NaCl; 1
m moll of (NH4) 2SO4] microstructure analysis was performed, and the macroscopic analysis.

2.2. Microstructural analysis

Sample preparation was carried out in a standard way: grinding and polishing. Samples were etched in 2% Nital
solution. The thus prepared sample was observed at the optical microscope Olympus Vanox - A.
Comparative Sample conditions:
• initial state
• After 1 week of exposure to SARS
• After 3 weeks of exposure to SARS.

Fig. 1. (a) The microstructure of patented wire in the initial state, (b) coated brass layer.
354 Mária Mihaliková et al. / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 352 – 356

The microstructure of patented wire is lamellar pearlite Fig. 1. (a). The microstructure is very fine grain size to that
produced during the plastic deformation of wire drawing through dies. On the surface, the patented wire is coated
brass layer from the corrosion protection and improved adhesion to rubber Fig. 1. (b). Pearlitic grain size of the
samples at the edge of the brass coating was between 7 -9 —m, but in places from the edge to the middle of the samples
to magnify the grain size of 14-15 —m Fig. 1. (b).

2.3 Corrosion measurement

Determine the impact of the environment on the surface of the corrosion properties of the samples were carried out
corrosion tests to determine the rate of corrosion of the patented wires of diameters 1.34 - 1.98 mm coated and
uncoated surface. In an environment of SARS it was measured according method by TAFEL.
Potentio - dynamic polarization curves were obtained by the linear Volt Ampere meter at rate of change of potential
5mV.s -1. Was used VOLTALAB potentiostat 21 connected PC using of software VOLTAMASTER 4, where
engagement has been given:
• auxiliary electrode was Pt electrode
• reference electrode was saturated calomel electrode type 10-15 + (SCE)
• working electrode sample was patented wire.
Microstructural analysis of the patented wire after 1 week exposure in a solution of SARS.
The patented wire coated Fig. 2. (a) without coating Figure 2. (b) - documented the cross section of the sample after
a week of exposure to SARS solution. Of corrosion stress is unevenly. Greater range of corrosion stress is visible on
the patented wire without coating.

Fig. 2. (a) The microstructure of patented wire after 1 week exposure in a solution of SARS coated (b) without coating.

Fig. 3. (a) The microstructure of patented wire after 3 week exposure in a solution of SARS coated (b) without coating.

The microstructure of patented wire after 3 weeks of exposure to SARS is in Fig. 3 (a) and Fig. 3 (b) without
coating. Patented wire rod coating occurred corrosive attack the coating itself, and the point of damage began to
dissolve and stainless steel.
 Mária Mihaliková et al. / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 352 – 356 355

2.4 Potentiodynamic analysis

Measured according to TAFE - ranging from -800 to + 800 mV three electrode connection - in an environment of
SARS provided the essential characteristics of corrosion:
• instantaneous corrosion rate of the samples coated and uncoated,
• corrosion potential of samples of coated and uncoated.
Graph of corrosion tests of patented wires of 1.34 mm and 1.98 mm coated and uncoated - after 1 hour Fig. 4 and
after 1 week Fig. 5 of exposure in the environment of SARS - VoltaLab evaluated by means of software .

Fig. 4 The course of potentiodynamic polarization curves patented wire with a diameter of 1.34 mm coated by TAFE after 1 hour exposure in the
environment of SARS.

Fig. 5 The course of potentiodynamic polarization curves patented wire with a diameter of 1.34 mm coated by TAFE after 1 week exposure in the
environment of SARS.
356 Mária Mihaliková et al. / Procedia Engineering 190 (2017) 352 – 356

3. Conclusion

High carbon pearlitic steel wires are investigated in this paper.

The main conclusions are that:
- The microstructure of patented wire lamellar pearlite is formed with a brass coating on the edge.
- Pearlitic grain size was in the peripheral parts of 7-9 microns and away from the edge towards the centre of the
grain size grew larger and reached 14 to 15 microns.
- Based on the analysis micro-structural analysis patented wire after exposure in an environment of SARS can be
stated: that of continuous patented brass plated wires, corrosion coating meets function and adequately protect the
steel base. In many cases the non-solid brass coating, did not ensure the protection of corrosion and degradation of
patented wire was coated with a more pronounced, as in the patented wire without coating.
- Damage of the coating, as can occur by mechanical damage with pulling the wire through the dies to be eliminated,
and a regular cleaning drawing dies.

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the, grant project VEGA 1/0549/14 of Slovak Republic.

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