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The aim of the work was to evaluate the hot ductility loss in TiNb stabilized IF steel directly from the continuously-cast slab using hot torsion testing (plastometry) in the temperature range 600–1250 °C according to the basic programme, and also after temperature cycling. A good match of the temperature dependences of number of turns to failure (Nf) and intensity of deformation Se was confirmed. In both cases, the existence of three temperature areas with decrease in plasticity to a minimum was confirmed. The two-stage temperature cycling according to the CT1150 and CT900 programmes mostly resulted in a decrease in plasticity compared to the basic programme. The most significant effect of cycling was related to the CT900 programme below the maximum plasticity in the base programme at 850 °C. A less pronounced decrease was observed for CT1150 cycling below the maximum plasticity in the base program at 1050 °C. In the case of CT1150 cycling, more complex particles were observed at the fractures compared with the basic programme, namely carbonitrides of Ti and Nb in combination with oxisulfides respectively, then Ti nitrides with oxisulfides or oxides and, in addition, complex (Fe,Nb)P4, (Ti,Nb)3S4 type particles. Their mean size determined statistically using TEM was much finer, only 20 nm versus 42 nm in the basic programme. Similarly, CT900 cycling revealed finer particles with an average size of 37 nm compared to 105 nm in the basic programme. The observed particles were Al oxides, Ti(N,C) and (Ti,Nb)2S, in contrast to the particles probably of TiFe and FeMnS in the basic programme. The decrease in plasticity corresponded to the finer particles, newly created in the temperature cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]