Structural changes of severely plastic deformed rail steel

Severe plastic deformation has been applied to the pearlitic rail steel UIC 900A and Armco-iron. The development of the texture and the peak broadening has been determined. In both cases a characteristic shear texture evolves, the analysis of peak profiles indicates a structural refinement during the accumulation of strain. To assert further the refinement and to investigate the behavior of the cementite lamellae, transmission electron microscope micrographs were taken. A decrease of the lamellae spacing, a heavy fragmentation of the lamellae and increasing missorientation both in the cementite lamellae and the ferrite were observed.