Intercolonial Microdamage and Cracking Micromechanisms during Wire Drawing of Pearlitic Steel

This paper studies the drawing-induced intercolonial microdamage (ICMD) in pearlitic microstructures. The analysis was performed from the direct observation of the microstructure of the progressively cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires associated with the distinct steps (cold-drawing passes) of a real cold-drawing manufacturing scheme, constituted by seven cold-drawing passes. Three types of ICMD were found in the pearlitic steel microstructures, all affecting two or more pearlite colonies, namely: (i) intercolonial tearing; (ii) multi-colonial tearing; and (iii) micro-decolonization. The ICMD evolution is quite relevant to the subsequent fracture process of cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires, since the drawing-induced intercolonial micro-defects act as weakest links or fracture promoters/initiators, thereby affecting the microstructural integrity of the wires.