INFLUENCE OF ANNEALING ON TEXTURE AND MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF 18-PERCENT NICKEL, 2400 MN M(-2) GRADE MARAGING-STEEL

The texture incorporated during cold rolling of maraging steel persist s even when the samples are annealed at temperatures close to the melt ing point. The texture influences the microstructural developments obs erved following aging, which in turn affects the magnetic properties o f maraging steel. The maximum coercive field, observed after aging at about 700 degrees C, increased from about 11 140 A m(-1) in the as rol led and aged condition to about 14 720 A m(-1) in the specimen anneale d at 1000 degrees C before aging. The corresponding saturation magneti sation values also increased from about 1.040 to about 1.300 T. The pr ior annealing affects the morphology of the precipitates as well as th e reverted austenite.