Macroscopic Characterization of Mechanical Properties in Electric Current Treated Dry Drawn High Strength Wires

Abstract

The present paper investigates the use of electric current treatment in improving the drawability of plain carbon steel wire for high strength steel applications. The mechanical properties for wires of composition 0.80C 0.65Mn 0.27Si wt.% of diameters 4.09 and 3.00 mm dry drawn from 10.00 mm rods are characterised. The total number of passes for 4.09 and 3.00 mm diameter wires are 7 and 10 respectively resulting in true strains of 1.79 and 2.41. Samples are treated with electric currents in-between the two drawing stages of 4.09 and 3.00 mm, and tested at both stages in tension, torsion and reverse bending along with control samples for comparison. The applied currents are pulsed at a frequency of 100 Hz with each pulse being approximated by a square wave of loading width 80µs and modest current densities of 7.96 Amm −2 . Thus the influence of electric current on the drawability of plain carbon steel wire is assessed between stages of reduction.

Electric current as a steel wire manufacturing tool

“…Additionally, the changes in properties during the deformation process by application of current will ultimately determine the suitability of the technique for the user's intended purpose. As such, preliminary investigations have begun on high carbon steels [49] which have received less attention than stainless steels in electric current The work evaluates the influence of electric currents on the mechanical properties of high carbon wire rod by taking into consideration industry criteria for wire manufactures.…”

“…The recorded increases for UTS of carbon steels drawn with electric current has been proposed to be due to ageing [49], explained by electric current promoting the diffusion of carbon in the deformed wire. The recorded temperature rises and period of current application corresponded with increases in yield strength and UTS predicted by ageing carbon steel wires at a similar equivalent conventional furnace temperature of 60C and ageing time [50].…”

Editorial

“…The first study of the macroscopic properties of electropulsed steel wires has been published [35]. Wire rods drawn down to 4.09 mm were electrically treated and then drawn further, followed by mechanical assessment.…”