High-Carbon Steel Wire Rod Microstructure Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current manufacturing methods for high-strength steel wires face challenges in productivity and yield rate due to wire breakage during drawing and twisting processes, particularly with carbon steel wire rods having C content below 0.9 mass%, where increasing carbon content to achieve high strength degrades wire drawing properties.

Innovation Solution

A wire rod composition with C: 0.95-1.30 mass%, Si: 0.1-1.5 mass%, Mn: 0.1-1.0 mass%, and controlled cooling and patenting treatments to suppress pro-eutectoid cementite formation, ensuring 97% pearlite and ≤0.5% pro-eutectoid cementite in cross-sections, enhancing tensile strength and ductility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the carbon content is increased to achieve high strength, then the tensile strength is improved, but the wire drawing properties are degraded due to generation of pro-eutectoid cementite

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidwire drawing properties
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by precisely controlling the carbon content range (0.70-1.35%) and introducing specific alloying elements (Ti: 0.01-0.10%, B: 0.0005-0.0050%, Al: 0.01-0.10%, Si: 0.01-1.50%) to modify the microstructure and suppress pro-eutectoid cementite formation, thereby improving wire drawing properties while maintaining high strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite microstructure consisting of pearlite as the primary phase (90-99% area ratio) with controlled pro-eutectoid cementite content (≤1.5% area ratio), forming a composite material system that combines the strength benefits of cementite with the ductility of pearlite

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the carbon content is increased to achieve high strength, then the tensile strength is improved, but the wire breakage during drawing and twisting processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidwire breakage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the chemical composition parameters including carbon content (0.70-1.35%), titanium (0.01-0.10%), boron (0.0005-0.0050%), aluminum (0.01-0.10%), and silicon (0.01-1.50%) to control the microstructure, suppressing pro-eutectoid cementite formation and reducing wire breakage during processing while maintaining high strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful effect of high carbon content (which normally causes pro-eutectoid cementite formation and wire breakage) into a benefit by using controlled composition ranges and alloying elements to suppress cementite formation, allowing high strength to be achieved without the associated reliability problems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Strength

If conventional manufacturing methods are used for high carbon steel wires, then high strength can be achieved, but productivity and yield rate are significantly degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidproductivity and yield rate
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters to optimize both strength and processability, with carbon content (0.70-1.35%), titanium (0.01-0.10%), boron (0.0005-0.0050%), and other elements controlled within specific ranges to achieve high strength while improving wire drawing properties and reducing breakage, thereby increasing productivity and yield rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a feedback mechanism by establishing specific composition ranges and microstructure requirements (pearlite area ratio 90-99%, pro-eutectoid cementite area ratio ≤1.5%) that guide the manufacturing process to achieve consistent high strength and good ductility, reducing variability and improving overall process efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves high-strength steel wires with improved ductility and reduced wire breakage, maintaining excellent wire drawing properties while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

97% or more of an area in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire rod is occupied by a pearlite, and 0.5% or less of an area in a central area in the cross-section and 0.5% or less of an area in a first surface layer area in the cross-section are occupied by a pro-eutectoid cementite

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase transformation: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

a wire rod with a composition including: C: 0.95-1.30 mass%; Si: 0.1-1.5 mass%; Mn: 0.1-1.0 mass%; Al:0-0.1 mass%

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling treatment: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP2532764B1Wire material, steel wire, and processes for production of those products
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
  • EP2532764B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2532764B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2532764B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention provides a wire rod with a composition at least including: C: 0.95-1.30 mass%; Si: 0.1-1.5 mass%; Mn: 0.1-1.0 mass%; Al:0-0.1 mass%; Ti: 0-0.1 mass%; P: 0-0.02 mass%; S: 0-0.02 mass%; N: 10-50 ppm; O:10-40 ppm; and a balance including Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein 97% or more of an area in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire rod is occupied by a pearlite, and 0.5% or less of an area in a central area in the cross-section and 0.5% or less of an area in a first surface layer area in the cross-section are occupied by a pro-eutectoid cementite.