In the present study, using a new method, dual-phase (DP) steel with high strength and good ductility was produced from plain carbon steel with 0.16% carbon. The DP steel with ferrite-martensite structure was obtained using austenitizing, quenching, asymmetric cold rolling, and intercritical annealing at temperatures of 770 and 800 °C and short holding times of 1 and 5 min. Due to the application of uniform shear strain through asymmetric cold rolling, a uniform distribution of the martensite phase was observed in the RD-TD and RD-ND planes. By increasing the holding time, the volume fraction of martensite increased from 8% to 12% at 770 °C and from 10% to 33% at 800 °C for the holding times of 1 and 5 min, respectively. Hardness and strength improved with increasing temperature and time of intercritical annealing. The sample produced at a temperature of 800 °C and a time of 5 minutes showed excellent mechanical properties such as 244 HV hardness and 1020 MPa strength and 12.5% ​​ductility. In addition, due to the high volume fraction of martensite and the consequent reduction of its carbon content, the hardness of this phase decreased and as a result, it showed significant plastic deformation and high strain hardening. The fracture surface of all produced DP steels mainly included dimples, which indicates ductile fracture behavior.

Keywords: Dual-phase steel, Asymmetric rolling, Intercritical annealing, Microstructure, Mechanical properties

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