The variation in microstructure and texture during continuous annealing was examined in a series of 1.6% Mn-0.1% Cr-0.3% Mo-0.005% B steels with carbon contents in the range of 0.010 to 0.030%. It was found that microstructure of hot band consisted of ferrite and pearlite as a consequence of high coiling temperature, and eutectoid carbon content was between 0.011% and 0.016%. Martensite ranged in volume fraction from 1.5% to 4.0% when annealed at $820{\circ}C$ according to the typical continuous annealing cycle. The critical martensite content for the continuous yielding was about 4% from stress-strain curves. The continuous yielding was obtained in the 0.030% carbon steel and 0.010% to 0.020% carbon steels revealed some yield point elongation ranging from 0.8% to 2.2% in as-annealed conditions. Higher tensile strength in the higher carbon steel is due to both increase in the martensite volume fraction and ferrite grain refinement. Decreasing the carbon content to 0.01% strengthened the intensities of ${\gamma}$-fiber textures, resulting in the increase in the $r_m$ value, which was caused by the lower volume fraction of martensite. The higher carbon steels showed the lower $r_m$ value of about 1.0.

Two types of advanced cold-work tool steels were characterized and compared. A higher-alloyed ledeburitic steel with primary carbides (denoted as 9Cr) and a lower-alloyed steel without primary carbides (5Cr) were fabricated by vacuum induction melting and subsequent hot forging. They were spheroidizing-annealed at $870^{\circ}C$, quenched at $1030^{\circ}C$ and tempered at 180 or $520^{\circ}C$. Their machinability after annealing and hardness, impact toughness, wear resistance after tempering were compared and interpreted in association with their characteristic microstructures. After annealing, 5Cr showed higher resistance to machining due to higher ductility and toughness in spite of lower strength and smaller carbide volume. Owing to smaller carbide volume fraction and the absence of coarse primary carbides, 5Cr showed even better impact toughness although the hardness was lower. The improved toughness of 5Cr resulted in excellent wear resistance, while smaller volume fraction of retained austenite also contributed to it.

The study is intended to investigate the effect of solution treatment on microstructure and corrosion behavior of AZ91(Mg-9%Al-1%Zn-0.3%Mn)-2%Ca casting alloy. In as-cast state, the AZ91-2%Ca alloy consisted of intermetallic ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$, $Al_8Mn_5$ and $Al_2Ca$ phases in ${\alpha}-(Mg)$ matrix. After the solution treatment, Al within the ${\alpha}-(Mg)$ matrix was distributed more homogeneously, along with the slight decrease in the total amount of intermetallic compounds. The corrosion resistance of the AZ91-2%Ca alloy was improved after the solution treatment. The microstructural examinations for the solution-treated samples revealed that the better corrosion resistance may well be related to the incorporation of more oxides and hydroxides such as $Al_2O_3$, $Al(OH)_3$, CaO and $Ca(OH)_2$ into the surface corrosion product without dissolution of the intermetallic phases along the grain boundaries.

Effects of austenite on the uniform corrosion in the solution of $1\;N\;H_2SO_4$ were investigated through the electrochemical polarization test. Two phases structures of martensite and austenite were obtained by annealing treatment at the range of $500^{\circ}C{\sim}700^{\circ}C$ for 10min. in 70% cold-rolled 202 stainless steel. Volume fraction of reversed austenite increased rapidly with an increase of annealing temperature. Uniform Corrosion was occur mainly on martensite phase in 202 austenitic stainless steel with two phase of austenite and martensite. Corrosion current density increased with an increase of volume fraction of austenite, therefore uniform corrosion was affected by volume fraction of austenite