Optimization of spheroidized annealing process parameters on AISI 10B21 steel wire using Taguchi approach

Recent development in fastener industry has heightened the need for steel wire coil. The wire usually has to be annealed to improve its cold formability. The quality of spheroidizing annealed wire affects the forming quality of screws. Various parameters affect the quality of spheroidized annealing such as spheroidized annealing temperature, prolonged heating time, furnace cooling temperature. The effects of spheroidized annealing parameters affect the quality characteristics, such as tensile strength, hardness and ductility. A series of experimental tests on AISI 10B21 steel wire is carried out in a vacuum drying oven and Taguchi method is used to obtain optimum spheroidized annealing conditions to improve the mechanical properties of steel wires for cold forming. The results show experimentally that spheroidized annealing temperature is the main factor to influence the mechanical properties of AISI 10B21 steel wires.