Annealing without structural

transformation
 Steel annealing

with structural
without
transformation
structural transformation
(second type
(first type – up to A1)
– above A1)
 Annealing without structural
transformation

Related to mechanical Realated to dissolubility

properties
- Hydrogen brittleness
- Stress relieving anneal. anneal.
(elimination of internal)
- Spheroidization anneal.
- Recrystallization anneal.
- Soft annealing
 Stress relieving annealing
(elimination of internal)
Stress relieving is an intermediate heat treatment procedure to reduce induced
residual stresses as a result of machining, fabrication and welding. The
application of heat to the steel during its machining or fabrication will assist in
removing residual stresses that will, unless addressed during the manufacturing by
stress relieving, manifest themselves at the final heat treatment procedure.

It is a relatively low temperature operation that is done in the ferrite region, which
means that there is no phase change in the steel, only the reduction of residual
stresses. The temperature region is usually between 450 to 600°C. However, the
higher that one goes in temperature, the greater the risk of surface oxidation there is.
It is generally better to keep to the lower temperatures, particularly if the steel is a
"pre-hard" steel. The hardness will be reduced if the stress relieve temperature
exceeds the tempering temperature of the steel.

There is a general rule of thumb for time at temperature. It must be stated that the time
is taken when the part is at temperature, not when the furnace is at temperature. The
time at temperature for the processes of full anneal (not spheroidize anneal),
normalize and stress relieve is 60 minutes at part temperature per one-inch of the
maximum cross-sectional area.
 Recrystallization annealing
• Recovery of the structure and its
properties after straining.
• Elimination of unwanted texture after cold
forming.
• Interoperable annealing during forming.
Recrystallization annealing

Grain
Recovery Recrystallization growth
Recrystallization annealing
Texture after cold rolling
 Recrystallization annealing
Structure recovery – these processes are invisible

1) Anihilation of contrariwise dislocation

3) Migration of gran
boundaries
2) Polygonation of dislocations
Recrystallization annealing
Chart of structure recrystallization

Recrystallization

Recovery
Grain
growth
Recrystallization annealing
Chart of structure recrystallization

Recrystallization
Recovery
Grain
growth

Annealing time [min]

 Soft annealing

Through the soft annealing, the steel is supposed to obtain a

possible very low sturdiness and hardness.
The steel is annealed just below the first conversion line (AC1 Line,
about 680 - 700 °C) and subsequently cooled after an appropriate
holding time in the furnace. The soft glow is suitable for low
eutectoid steels (<0.8% carbon).
The steel can as such be easier and more economically machined
and formed. In the event of a machined further processing, only
steels with carbon content above 0.4%, in this case undergo soft
annealing. In the case of carbon contents <0.4%, soft annealed
steels can begin to lubricate already during machining.
 Annealing without structural transformation -
realated to dissolubility
Hydrogen brittleness annealing

After acid pickling or galvanic processes –

hydrogen diffusion in steel (metal)
Hydrogen segregation namely during temperature
drop – floccules
Irremovable fall of ductility – failure grains
cohesion
Annealing before creation of brittleness – steels at
temperature range 300-400°C
Creation of hydrogen brittleness
 Annealing without structural transformation -
realated to dissolubility
Spheroidization annealing

The spheroidizing (annealing on spherical cementite) is used

when steels have a carbon content >0.8% (low eutectoid
steels).

The heat treatment is similar to that of soft annealing. The

steel is hereby heated just above the first conversion line
(AC1) or made to oscillate within the range of the AC1 line.

After an appropriate long holding time (up to 100 h) it is then

cooled down in the furnace. It is hereby important to
achieve the highest possible spheroidization degree.
Annealing without structural transformation -
realated to dissolubility
Spheroidization annealing

Lamellar perlite – left (distantion between each plate 0.13 micrometers)

Spheroidizated perlite – right, after 1.5h of annealing at 750°C
Spheroidizated perlite