In order to make a comprehensive comparison between ultra-thin hot rolled low carbon steel (LC) and extra low carbon steel (ELC) produced by endless roll technology and explain the differences, a detailed investigation into the microstructural characterization, characteristics of cementite and precipitates, mechanical properties, internal friction peaks, texture characterization by an X-ray powder diffractometer and electron backscatter diffraction, and formability including earing behavior, hole expanding ratio and V-shaped bending properties was carried out with different carbon content for 1.0 mm thickness ultra-thin hot rolled strip produced in endless strip production line. The experimental results indicate that the microstructure of both is composed of multi-layer areas with different grain sizes and thicknesses, the strength and elongation of LC are higher than that of ELC, but the content of solid solution carbon atoms and r of ELC are higher than that of LC, at the same time, the formability of ultra-thin strip ELC is better than that of LC mainly related to the content of {hkl} <110> and {111} <112> of ELC was higher than those of LC. The mechanical and formability properties of ultra-thin hot rolled strip by endless roll technology can meet the requirements of replacement cold rolled strip by hot rolled strip.
Keywords: carbon content; endless roll technology; formability; texture; ultra-thin.