Magnetic properties and microstructure of AISI 1000 series carbon steels

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Abstract
The magnetic properties of a number of specimens of AISI 1000 series plain carbon steels have been measured as functions of chemical composition, microstructure and heat treatment. The results showed that for a given morphology of the carbides the magnetic properties such as coercivity and permeability varied smoothly as a function of carbon content. Coercivity increased with carbon content by 2.0 Oe for every 0.1 wt.% carbon added at low carbon contents while initial permeability decreased by 57% on the addition of 0.2 wt.% carbon in the form of lamellar carbides (pearlite), but by only 21% when those carbides were in the form of spheroidised particles. In all cases the spheroidised specimens were found to be magnetically softer than the lamellar specimens and the difference increased with the amount of carbon present. Grain size did not seem to affect the magnetic properties significantly above a carbon content of 0.2 wt.%, although it was known that grain size is a significant factor in determining magnetic properties in iron alloys with lower carbon content.