The influence of addition of chromium in the strain aging were studied in two stelmorized pearlitic steels, after drawing to an area reduction of 86%, contains one of the steels, 0,25% of chromium in the chemical composition. Two stages of strain aging were observed for both steels in the treatment temperature interval considered. The mechanism responsible for the strain aging in the first stage was the locking of dislocations by nitrogen and carbon atoms in solid solution in the ferrite. The second stage of aging was associated with dislocation locking in the ferrite/cementite interfaces. The effect of chromium was the reduction of the pearlitic interlamelar spacing, increasing the intensity of the strain aging effects in the mechanical properties. No significant differences were observed in the activation energy for the second of aging, meaning that at least for the investigated amount, 0,25%, chromium does not affect the stability of cementite.
pearlitic steels at the chromium; strain aging
