Application of the Phase Transformation Model for the Design of the Cooling Conditions in Stelmor Process to Obtain a Favorable Multiphase Microstructure of Wire Rod for Cold Heading Applications.

The phase transformation model is the subject of this article capable of evaluating the hardenability of various bainitic steels. The objective is to provide a tool, which will help to design the chemical composition of steels with enhanced bainitic hardenability. Three general indexes, which are based on the relation between bainite volume fraction and cooling rate, and which characterize the hardenability, are proposed. Calculations of these hardenability indexes are presented for low‐carbon steels with different chemical compositions. Correlation between the chemistry and the hardenability factors is evaluated. Following this, an industrial process of cooling of wire rods is simulated for the steel with hardenability indexes adjusted to the cooling capabilities of Stelmor system. The cooling conditions, which give a favorable multiphase microstructure of wire rod for cold heading applications, are designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]