Metallurgist, Vol. 48, Nos.

11–12, 2004

WIRE ROD OF BORON-BEARING LOW-CARBON

STEEL FOR DIRECT DEEP DRAWING

V. V. Parusov,1 A. B. Sychkov,2 UDC 669.15’781-194.746.5

M. A. Zhigarev,2 and A. V. Perchatkin2

The Moldavian Metallurgical Plant has developed an integrated technology for making steel, a continous-
cast semifinished product, and wire rod in accordance with the requirements of international standards. The
technology involves optimizing the chemical composition of the steel (normalizing the contents of the
chemical elements and the carbon equivalent Ce, inoculating the steel with calcium to lower its content of
nonmetallic inclusions, and microalloying it with boron) and using efficient regimes for rolling and two-stage
cooling (thermomechanical treatment) of the wire rod on a Stelmore line. The low-carbon wire rod is easily
cleaned of scale by mechanical or chemical means and can be reduced from 5.5 to 0.5 mm in diameter by
drawing at speeds up to 30 m/sec without an intermediate heat treatment to soften the wire rod/wire.

Modern hardware manufacturing requires the use of low-carbon wire rod with good ductility properties for direct
(without an initial or intermediate annealing to soften the metal) drawing in which the total reduction is 99% or more. The
scale that is formed on the surface of the wire rod should be able to be quickly and easily removed by chemical or mechan-
ical methods before drawing. Also, the surface quality of the initial wire rod (its shape and geometry and the absence of intol-
erable defects) should guarantee high-productivity drawing with a minimal number of ruptures and minimal draw-plate con-
sumption, as well as good adhesion of the process lubricant to the surface of the wire rod/wire. In some cases, the surface
quality of the wire rod should be such as to ensure the formation of a clean, lustrous surface on the finished product. The
Moldavian Metallurgical Plant (MMZ) has developed an integrated technology that includes production of the steel, contin-
uous casting of semifinished products, and the formation of wire rod that meets the above-mentioned requirements for the
world market. The technology optimizes the chemical composition of the steel and reduces its content of nonmetallic inclu-
sions. It involves microalloying of the steel with boron, and it employs efficient regimes for the rolling and heat treatment
of the wire rod on a Stelmore mill [1–10].
The publications [1–3, 6–8] presented results from research on development of the chemical composition of the
steel and control of its carbon equivalent and boron content – which determine the mechanical properties of low-carbon
(C = 0.01–0.10%) wire rod. The authors of [7, 9] substantiated the use of fan-equipped jet cooling blocks (JCBs) at the
MMZ to optimize the composition of the secondary scale. They also described the effect of this scale on the increase
obtained in σu (10–15 N/mm2), which is compensated for by lowering Ce and increasing the steel’s boron content while
satisfying the condition B/N ≈ 0.8 (Fig. 1).
The tendency of boron to reduce the strength properties of wire rod made of low-carbon steel can be explained as
follows. The formation of boron nitride BN in the absence of other elements that bond with nitrogen diminishes the positive

1
Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy (of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences).
2
The Moldavian Metallurgical Plant (MMZ) SZAO.

Translated from Metallurg, No. 12, pp. 68–73, December, 2004.

626 0026-0894/04/1112-0626 ©2004 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

 Fig. 1. Effect of the carbon equivalent (a), boron content (b), and ratio of boron content to nitrogen content (c) on
tensile strength.

effect of micro-additions of boron on the steel’s hardenability and increases its impact toughness [10]. It can be concluded
from this that, in contrast to the strengthening effect of boron in iron-containing solid solutions or carboboride compounds
of iron (where boron increases the steel’s hardenability), boron nitride can have a weakening effect – especially in wire rod
made of low-carbon steel. In addition, boron nitride prevents aging processes from taking place by completely bonding the
nitrogen in the steel [7, 10].
Low-carbon steel with micro-additions of boron have good ductility and deformability and can be used in place of
low-carbon rimming steels [11, 12]. However, the reasons for the behavior of boron in the steel have yet to be definitively
established.
It has been shown experimentally that the presence of boron in wire-rod steel only in the form of BN guarantees that
the rod will have good ductility regardless of the class of steel as long as the heat treatment is optimum: tensile strength will
be reduced 30–55 N/mm2 by the introduction of 0.003–0.014% boron into low-carbon steel, grain size will be increased by
roughly 1.5–2 (on the scale established by GOST 5639), and the total amount and dimensions of the structurally free cemen-
tite (SFC) will be decreased. The ductility of wire-rod steel made in an electric furnace increases after 1–3 days due to stress
relaxation and the release of diffusionally mobile hydrogen.
An x-ray microanalysis showed that the strengthening elements (Mn, Si, Cr, Ni) are more uniformly distributed
among the structural components in boron-bearing steel. The bonding of nitrogen atoms in carbonitride compounds by boron
makes the wire rod more amenable to plastic deformation [13].
The studies [4, 8, 15, 16] examined the plasticizing effect of boron in the presence of copper (Cu ≤ 0.35%). These
studies focused in particular on dimensional-geometric aspects of the distribution of boron atoms in the crystalline lattices of

627
 Fig. 2. Dependence of the average ßu for vacuum-degassed steel on Ce (a, c) and the content of B (b, c).

TABLE 1. Chemical Composition of Trial Heats of Steel C4D

Mass fraction of chemical elements, %

No. of B/N ladle Ntot –Nfree
heat C Mn Si P S Cr Ni Cu Al Ti B Ntot /rolled Ca Ce* (rolled
product product)

1 0.03 0.31 0.03 0.011 0.010 0.06 0.13 0.34 0.008 0.001 0.0064 0.009 0.71/0.71– 0.0017 0.14 0.009–
0.80 0.0020 0.005
2 0.02 0.34 0.03 0.011 0.009 0.06 0.10 0.23 0.004 0.001 0.0056 0.008 0.70/0.70– 0.0022 0.13 0.008–
0.80 0.0019 0.004
3 0.01 0.38 0.02 0.012 0.009 0.08 0.09 0.17 0.004 0.001 0.0062 0.007 0.89/0.89 0.0019 0.12 0.007–
0.004

α- and γ-iron. Relations presented in [8, 14] which describe the changes in the lattice period of γ-Fe (in pure form and with
an addition of 0.005% boron) within the range 925–1200°C show that the lattice period is smaller in γ-Fe with boron. The
introduction of copper atoms (which are larger than Fe atoms) into the lattice of α-Fe increases its period and the level of the
microstresses that are present. These changes are compensated for by the presence of the smaller boron atoms, which occu-
py interstitial positions in the α-Fe lattice. These factors explain the results observed in the test specimens in [8, 16] and in
products rolled at the MMZ: the high limiting solubility of copper in α-Fe in boron-bearing steels, the reduced strength of
these steels, and their improved process ductility [14].
It is interesting to examine results obtained in the production of low-carbon wire rod made of vacuum-degassed steel
C4D (Figs. 2 and 3 and Tables 1 and 2). Very low contents of carbon (0.03–0.01%) and silicon (0.03–0.02%) were obtained
in the fully deoxidized steel during decarbonization that occurred in the vacuum-degassing operation. The steel also had low
contents of phosphorus, sulfur, chromium, and nickel. The mass fraction of aluminum in the steel was relatively high
(0.004–0.008%), which would have been impossible without vacuum degassing and complete protection of the stream from
secondary oxidation during continuous casting. The average boron content of the steel was 0.0056–0.0064% and the ratio
B/N was equal to 0.70–0.89.
Initial tests of the steel yielded values of σu = 319–366 N/mm2, σy = 191–257 N/mm2, δ5 = 42.7–48.3%, δ10 = 28–32%,
and ψ = 82.2–89.4%. The highest ductility characteristics were obtained on a heat which had a minimal carbon equivalent
(heat No. 3, Ce = 0.12%). The time of quasi-isothermal holding of the steel under heat-insulating covers determines the degree
of completion of the γ → α transformation and thus effects the level of properties of the wire rod. Minimal values of ultimate

628
 ßu, N/mm2
370

350
Heat 1, Ce = 0.14%
Heat 2, Ce = 0.12%
330 Heat 3, Ce = 0.14%

310
I II III IV V
Regime
a

ßu, N/mm2 ßu, N/mm2 ψ, %

370 350 90

340
350
Heat 2, Ce = 0.13%
330 88
330
320
86
310 Heat 3, Ce = 0.12% 310
100 300 500 700 900 1100 710 550 525 510 500
τh(cv), sec tp1, °C
b c

Fig. 3. Average values of ultimate strength (é) and reduction of area (×) for different process parameters in wire-rod
production: cooling regimes on the Stelmore line (a); time of holding of the coils at constant temperature under the heat-
insulating covers (b); temperature after the JCBs (c); τh(cv) – coil holding time under the heat-insulating covers; tp1 –
temperature of the coils after the JCBs at the first pyrometer in the Stelmore line; coiling temperature ti/a = 940–960°C;
all of the covers above the JCBs were closed in regimes I–V:
• regime I: without JCBs, νtr = 0.09–0.12 m/sec – coil transport speed; τh(cv) = 1143 sec; tp1 = 710–760°C; all covers
closed;
• regime II: 4 JCBs × 600 min–1; νtr = 0.4–0.5 m/sec; τh(cv) = 231 sec; tp1 ≤ 500°C;
• regime III: 4 JCBs × 600 min–1; νtr = 0.3–0.4 m/sec; τh(cv) = 297 sec; tp1 ≤ 500°C;
• regime IV: 6 JCBs × 600 min–1; νtr = 0.3–0.4 m/sec; τh(cv) = 274 sec; tp1 < 500°C;
• regime V: 4 JCBs × 600 min–1; νtr = 0.2–0.3 m/sec; τh(cv) = 416 sec; tp1 < 500°C.

strength were obtained for all three heats with the maximal holding time (τ = 1143 sec) and without the use of intensive cool-
ing by JCBs: σu = 322–342 N/mm2 (heat No. 2) and 319 N/mm2 (heat No. 3). An increase in the rate of air cooling and a
decrease in holding time (τ) were accompanied by an increase in strength: σu increased from 319–342 to 350 N/mm2 with a
decrease in τ from 1143 to 231 sec; σu increased from 319–342 to 361–366 N/mm2 with an increase in the rate of air cooling
(number of operating JCBs x motor speed) of coils of wire rod on the roller conveyor from 4 × 600 min–1 to 6 × 600 min–1
and an increase in coil transport speed from 0.09–0.12 to 0.4–0.5 m/sec. However, these relations were not monotonic (Fig. 3)
and changed irregularly, which can be attributed to the effect of competing factors. For example, an increase in the speed of
coil transport makes the cooling of the metal more uniform along the coils (and, thus, along the bundles) and improves the
formation of the bundles (especially when the JCBs are used for cooling). On the other hand, these measures shorten the
holding time and the total length of time that the metal is cooled by air driven by the fans of the JCBs. In fact, the change in
reduction of area was similar to the change in σu seen in the initial tests. This result is probably related to stress relaxation
that took place 1–2 days after rolling, when ψ increased and reached its maximum. Repeat tests performed after aging of the
metal over 2–3 days and the occurrence of relaxation processes showed some reduction in strength (σu = 311–362 N/mm2,

629
 TABLE 2. Structure and Nonmetallic Inclusion Content of Experimental Wire Rod Made of Steel
C4D in Accordance with Standard EN 10016, Part 2

No. of No. of No. for actual Amount of Surface defects

Microstructure
heat regime grain size scale, kg/ton number maximum depth, mm

2 I 7, 8, 9, idv. 6 F + CIII 15 2 0.02

II 9, 8, 7 11 2 0.05
III 8, 9 11 4 0.05
IV 8, 7, 9 – 6 0.06
3 V 7, 8, idv. 6 F 11 2 0.01
I 6, 5 F + CIII 11 1 0.01
II 7, 6 F + CIII – 2 0.01
III 8, 7, idv. 6 F 11 3 0.01
Note. F – ferrite; CIII – tertiary cementite in the form of fragments of networks in the ferrite grain boundaries and at junc-
tions between multiple grains.

σy = 165–245 N/mm2) and roughly the same ductility indices. The uniformity of their distribution was significantly greater
in this case: the range of values of the mechanical properties became narrower.
An even greater increase in the ductility characteristics of wire rod (σu < 310 N/mm2) can be expected with an
increase in the boron content and a decrease in the carbon equivalent by 0.03–0.04% (mainly as a result of manganese)
(Mn = 0.15%, Ce = 0.10–0.08%).
An increase in the length of time the coils were held at constant temperature increased actual ferrite grain size: from
Nos. 8, 7, and 9 to Nos. 7, 8, and 9 (heat No. 2). Individual grains also increased in size, to No. 6 (heat No. 2) and from Nos. 8
and 7 to Nos. 6 and 5 (heat No. 3). The coarser grains in heat No. 3 were probably due to the fact that when the experimental
batch of wire rod was made at the beginning of the campaign, the Stelmore line was “cold,” i.e., the channel under the heat-
insulating covers was not heated. Ferrite grain size was very evenly distributed over the radius of the product, as were the struc-
tural components as a whole – ferrite and tertiary cementite in the form of fragments of a network located in the grain bound-
aries and at the junctions of multiple grains. However, only a ferritic structure was seen in the steel of heat No. 3 treated by
regimes II and V. That should have a favorable effect on the properties of the wire rod and the ease of its drawing.
The production of a trial heat of steel with use of the vacuum-degassing unit and complete protection of the stream
resulted in wire rod of excellent surface quality – only a few surface (1–6) defects were seen about the perimeter of the cross
section, and their maximum depth ranged from 0.01 to 0.05 mm. The degree of contamination of the steel by nonmetallic
inclusions was acceptable: heat No. 2 corresponded to cord-grade wire rod with respect to this index, while heat No. 3 had
one unsatisfactory result – a brittle 28-µm thick silicate inclusion registering 4 points on the scale established by GOST 1778
(the Sh4 method). However, consideration should also be given to the requirements of the Bekaert company’s specificataion
GS 04-33, which allows nonmetallic inclusions up to 30 µm thick.
The amount of secondary scale on the surface of the wire rod was fairly substantial – from 11 to 15 kg/ton. The
greatest amount was seen on rod whose coils had been held at constant temperature the longest under the heat-insulating cov-
ers without the use of JCBs. It proved difficult to remove this scale from the rod before the drawing operation. The authors
of [4, 5, 9] offered a detailed description of the optimum practice for the formation of secondary scale on the surface of
low-carbon wire rod. This technology ensures that the scale can easily be removed by chemical or mechanical means prior
to drawing. An increase in the rate of air cooling (more than 5°C/sec) of coils of wire rod on the roller conveyor of the
Stelmore line and rapid passage through the temperature range associated with the undesirable transformation of FeO to
Fe3O4 (400–570°C) makes it possible to obtain scale (~80% FeO at the metal-scale interface and ~20% Fe3O4 elsewhere)
that is easily and completely removed from the surface of the wire rod by mechanical or chemical methods.

630
 TABLE 3. Mechanical Properties of the Wire Rod

σu, N/mm2 σy, N/mm2 δ5, % Ψ, %

396–407 263–273 37.7–40 74.4–77.1

11/400 10/268 2.3/39.1 2.7/75.2

An increase in the speed of transport of the coils leads to more uniform scale formation and a more uniform distri-
bution of the mechanical properties along the coil. The optimum speed is 0.2 m/sec for the first group of conveyor rollers,
and the speed should be increased by 0.01 m/sec for each subsequent group on the Stelmore line. Depending on the contents
of the strengthening elements in the steel, it might be possible to increase coil speed in the first group of rollers by as much
as 0.3 m/sec and increase it subsequently by the same amount as when that group’s speed is set at 0.2 m/sec.
We checked to see if a mechanical method could be used to remove secondary oxides from the surface of wire rod
made in accordance with the above-described optimum regime. It was found that the method removes more than 90% of the
scale (leaving no more than 0.3 kg/ton) in most (99.6%) cases.
The customers for the 5.5–14.0-mm-diam. low-carbon, boron-alloyed wire rod made by the MMZ use this product
to make different types of wire. The minimum diameter is 0.6–0.5 mm if no initial or intermediate annealings are performed
to soften the metal. The wire rod can be used to make wire without any special surface preparation (rough-finished wire),
wire with a galvanic coating (bright wire), wire with a lustrous surface (so-called claro brilliante), and wire without any metal-
lic or other type of coating (such as a polymeric coating). In the last case, the wire has a unique, lustrous surface similar to
a galvanized or chromized surface. Such wire is either used to make finished wire products that are not subjected to atmo-
spheric corrosion or is subsequently chromium-plated.
Boron-bearing low-carbon wire rod 5.5 mm in diameter has good deformability when drawn (Table 3). The chemi-
cal composition of the heat that we analyzed was a follows, mass %: 0.06 C; 0.39 Mn; 0.03 Si; 0.014 P; 0.023 S; 0.07 Cr;
0.14 Ni; 0.26 Cu; 0.0044 B, Ce = 0.182%.
It must be emphasized that the wire rod from this heat was not heat-treated on the rebuilt (short) Stelmore line.
Nevertheless, due to the low content of the strengthening elements (C, Mn, Si) and the relatively high content of boron, to
ensure satisfactory ductility (ßu = 400 N/mm2, ∂5 = 39.1%, ¥ = 75.2%) it is sufficient to keep the coils at constant tempera-
ture under the heat-insulating covers for 300–400 sec.
The drawing schedules shown in Table 4 were used to then convert the 5.5-mm-diam. wire rod into 0.7-mm-diam.
wire without initial or intermediate heat treatments to soften the metal.
An analysis of the data in Table 4 shows that the reduction regimes which were chosen for use were relatively rig-
orous; the strains εi reached 34% (µi = 1.52) and the average value was 28.3% (1.395). Despite this, no wire ruptures or
other problems were encounteered in the production of 1.9-mm-diam. semifinished wire and 0.9- and 0.7-mm diam. finished
wires at drawing speeds that reached a maximum of 8–10 m/sec.
Figure 4 shows certain aspects of the strengthening of the metal during the drawing operation. For the most part,
the character of the strain-hardening of the wire corresponds to the strain-hardening curves of the metal of the wire rods made
by other manufacturers. However, in contrast to those products, the MMZ product has the same levels of ductility and
deformability as a result of microalloying with boron – since the carbon equivalent of the corresponding types of wire rod
made by the other companies is lower due to the steel’s significantly lower contents of nonferrous-metal impurities (Ce ≤ 0.15,
instead of 0.182%).
The wire rod made by the MMZ is converted into 0.6-mm-diam. wire and, after heat treatment, into wire with a diam-
eter of 0.2 mm (this is done in a production complex that includes a vertical uncoiler with top and bottom tension rollers, a
roll-type scalebreaker, and spiral metal brushes). All of the scale is removed from the surface of the wire rod. Vertical uncoil-
ing is very effective for removing scale, and up to roughly 70–80% of it is removed on two rollers. The wire rod is uncoiled
at high speeds – 1.5–3.5 m/sec – on the drawbench used to make the wire of intermediate thickness. Thus, especially for duc-

631
 TABLE 4. Schedules for Drawing Wire Rod and Wire

No. of draw plate εΣ, % µΣ

No. of drawbench Parameter
εav µav
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 diam. 4.7 4.0 3.40 2.90 2.40 2.15 1.9 88.1 8.4
26.2 1.355
εi 27 27.6 27.8 27.3 31.5 19.8 21.9
µi 1.37 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.46 1.25 1.28
2 diam. 1.7 1.5 1.31 1.09 1.0 0.9 – 77.6 4.46
22.1 1.283
εi 20 22.2 23.7 30.8 15.8 19 –
µi 1.25 1.28 1.31 1.44 1.19 1.24 –
3 diam. 1.6 1.30 1.10 0.94 0.81 0.70 – 86.4 7.37
28.3 1.395
εi 29.1 34 28.4 27 25.8 25.3 –
µi 1.41 1.52 1.40 1.37 1.35 1.34 –

diam. 5.5 → ∅ 0.9 mm 97.3 37.35

diam. 5.5 → ∅ 0.7 mm 98.4 61.74

σu, N/mm2
1400 1220 (0.7)
1196 (0.9) 1200
1200

1000 1100
882 (1.9)
800 1000
600
900
400
88.1 97.3 98.4 0 29.1 52.5 66.5 72.3 77.6 86.4
(8.4) (37.35) (61.74) (1.25) (1.60) (2.14) (3.04) (4.09) (5.50)
εΣ (µΣ)
a b

Fig. 4. Graphs of the strain-hardening of 5.5-mm-diam. low-carbon wire rod when directly drawn into wires with diameters
of 1.9 mm, 0.9 mm, and 0.7 mm (a); graphs of the strain-hardening of 1.9-mm-diam. semifinished wire when drawn into
wires with diameters of 0.9 mm and 0.7 mm (b).

tile wire rod, correct formation of the bundles is critical for accident-free drawing at high uncoiling speeds (without entangling
of the turns of the coils). This is accomplished at the MMZ by applying sufficient tension to the coils on the rollers of the con-
veyor (v1 = 0.2–0.3 m/sec, v12 = 0.3–0.4 m/sec), cooling them with fan-driven air (3–6 JCBs × 600–800 min–1, with the num-
ber of operating jet-cooling blocks and the motor speed increasing with the diameter of the wire rod), and forming the bundles
in the shaft of the turn-receiving unit of the complex. Defects and uncooled ends of bundles are cut off on the Stelmore line.
The operations of coarse, medium, and wet drawing now proceed stably – no wire ruptures take place. The wire is
well-galvanized by the hot method, regardless of whether the silicon content is low (less than 0.03%) or high (0.12–0.22%).
The deformability of boron-bearing wire rod made of low-carbon, low-alloy steel with high and low silicon contents is good

632
and is comparable to the deformability of low-carbon rimming steel – the surface quality of which is always considerably
poorer than that of fully deoxidized killed steel.
Having a continuous, highly efficient production process (along with the necessary equipment and technology) is a
prerequistie to obtaining wire rod with a good surface that is free of scale and rust, as well as finished wire with the neces-
sary level of surface quality. For example, one of the hardware manufacturers that produces “claro brilliante” wire requires
that the surface of the wire rod be rust-free and that any scale on the surface be easily removeable by mechanical means. At
the same time, this company also has introduced several innovations to improve its own product quality: a vertical uncoiler,
a 10-roll scalebreaker that bends the wire rod in different planes, five pairs of rotating disk-shaped metal brushes (needle cut-
ters), drawbenches in which the rod is drawn 4–6 times at speeds of up to 15 m/sec, rotating draw plates, equipment to auto-
matically replenish the process lubricant through a special hose (with there being a natural limitation on the amount of lubri-
cant fed into the system), and horizontal spiral metal brushes installed after the last draw plate to break up and remove lubri-
cant residues. The company later added a 1000–1500-mm-long bath with hot water (t ≈ 70°C) to remove the final residues
of lubricant from the surface of the wire, five more spiral metal brushes, and cloths to dry the surface of the wire. The sur-
face quality of the wire is checked in line by an infrared flaw detector. The wire is coiled vertically on a rotating pallet.
However, it must be mentioned that the wire rod produced by the MMZ has already been successfully made into
claro brillante wire at another hardware factory – a factory that lacks some of the above-described equipment for cleaning the
wire of scale and lubricant (the plant does not have rotating mechanical brushes, an automatic lubrication system, a water
cleaning system, or a flaw detector). Based on this, it can be concluded that the most important factors in the formation of a
lustrous surface on the wire are thorough descaling of the surface of the wire rod and minimizing the amount of lubricant
supplied to the deformation zone.

Conclusions
1. It was found that the microalloying of low-carbon steel made in electric furnaces by the addition of boron has a
plasticizing effect on the steel if no other nitride-forming elements (Al, Ti, Nb, etc.) are also introduced; all of the boron is
bound by nitrogen (with the formation of BN).
2. It was established that scale with an optimum ratio of mass fractions of FeO to Fe3O4 (4:1)– scale that is easily
removed by chemical or mechanical means – is formed on wire rod that is coiled within the range 940–1000°C and then sub-
jected to air cooling at a rate of 10–30°C/sec.
3. A technology was developed and introduced for making low-carbon steel wire rod that can be directly drawn into
wire. The technology includes microalloying with boron (up to 0.010–0.014%), partial or complete protection of the metal
stream from secondary oxidation, and casting at speeds within the range 2.8–3.5 m/min. The temperature of the metal before
it is rolled on the rod mill is 950–970°C, while the temperature of the wire rod on the coiler is 940–970°C. The metal is
cooled from 940–970°C to 500–550°C at a rate of 10–30°C/sec. It is cooled from 550–500°C to 150–200°C at a rate of
0.5–1.0°C/sec in still air.
4. The rolled low-carbon wire rod can easily be cleaned of scale by mechanical or chemical means and can be
deformed (drawn) at speeds up to 30 m/sec into wire with a diameter ranging from 5.5 mm to 0.5 mm (total strain 99.2%).
The drawing operation can be performed without a plasticizing heat treatment for the wire rod.

REFERENCES

1. N. A. Bogdanov, A. B. Sychkov, I. V. Derevyanchenko, O. L. Kucherenko, V. V. Parusov, R. V. Starov, and A. M. Nes-

terenko, “Development and production of boron-bearing steels,” Metallurg, No. 2, 29–30 (1999).
2. A. V. Kutakov, A. B. Sychkov, M. A. Zhigarev, V. V. Parusov, R. V. Starov, and A. M. Nesterenko, “Effect of micro-
additions of boron on the mechanical and processing properties of wire rod,” Stal’, No. 1, 66–67 (2000).
3. N. A. Bogdanov, V. Kutakov, A. B. Sychkov, M. A. Zhigarev, V. V. Parusov, and A. M. Nesterenko, “Expediency of
limiting the contents of nonferrous-metal impurities in medium-carbon wire rod,” ibid., No. 1, 67–69 (2000).

633
 4. V. V. Parusov, A. M. Nesterenko, A. B. Sychkov, A. A. Oleinik, and O. V. Parusov, “Atmospheric corrosion of wire
rod and its effect on the quality of the wire,” Teor. Prakt. Metall., No. 4, 42–44 (2000).
5. A. B. Sychkov, N. A. Bogdanov, V. V. Parusov, O. V. Parusov, and M. A. Zhigarev, “Equipment modernization and
technology improvements for making quality rolled products at the Moldavian Metallurgical Plant,” Metall.
Gororud. Promst., No. 8–9, 306–313 (2002).
6. R. V. Starov, I. V. Derevyanchenko, and A. B. Sychkov, “Lowering the nitrogen content of steel in electric steel-
making,” Byull. Chermetinform. “Chern. Metallurg.,” No. 9, 26–29 (2003).
7. V. V. Parusov, A. B. Sychkov, V. A.Lutsenko, and E. V. Parusov, “Thermomechanical treatment for softening rolled
products made of medium-carbon steel,” Metall. Gororud. Promst., No. 6, 54–57 (2003).
8. A. M. Nesterenko and A. B. Sychkov, “Dimensional-geometric aspects of the alloying of steel with boron and cop-
per,” in: Theoretical and Practical Problems of Ferrous Metallurgy [in Russian], Vizion (2004), Vol. 7, pp. 181–183.
9. V. V. Parusov, A. N. Sav’yuk, A. B. Sychkov, A. M. Nesterenko, A. A. Oleinik, M. A. Zhigarev, and A. V. Perchatkin,
“Study of the feasibility of completely removing scale from the surface of wire rod before drawing,” Metallurg,
No. 6, 69–72 (2004).
10. N. P. Lyakishev, Yu. A. Pliner, and S. I. Lapko, Boron-Bearing Steels and Alloys [in Russian], Metallurgiya, Moscow
(1986).
11. B. Yalamanchili, J. Nelson, P. Power, and D. Lanham, “North Star Steel Texas’ experience with boron additions to
low-carbon steel,” Wire J. Int., No. 11, 90–94 (2001).
12. A. R. Frank and A. Kirkcaldy, “The effect of boron on the properties of electric-arc-sourced plain carbon wire –
drawing qualities,” ibid., No. 5, 100–103 (1998).
13. Research Report: Development of an Integrated Technology for Making Welding- and Cable-Grade Wire-Rod/Wire
of Medium- and Low-Carbon Steels, Dnepropetrovsk (1998).
14. L. I. Mirkin, x-Ray Inspection of Machine-Building Materials: Handbook [in Russian], Mashinostroenie, Moscow
(1979).
15. R. Kahn (ed.), Physical Metallurgy, Vol. 1, Atomic Structure of Metals and Alloys [Russian translation], Mir, Moscow
(1967).
16. Ya. N. Malinochka, G. Z. Koval’chuk, and V. N. Yarmosh, “Structure and properties of low-alloy plain-carbon steel
alloyed with boron and copper,” Metalloved. Term. Obrab. Met., No. 11, 10–14 (1981).

634