Phase transformation of low-carbon silicon steels LS 1.2 and LS 1.5

This paper contains information on the high-temperature phase equilibria and transformation behavior of two commercial low-carbon silicon steels (1.4–1.5% Si) determined by dilatometry and metallography. Use of a picric acid etching reagent has enabled the distribution of the α and γ phases to be determined on specimens cooled relatively quickly from high temperatures, and measurements of the quantity of γ present by normal etching in nital are shown to be underestimates. The steels studied contain some γ at temperatures from 760°C to at least 1200°C, with the amount increasing with decreasing silicon content and increasing temperature.