*2.1. Microstructural Starting Condition*

Prior to any experimental testing, coupons of approximately 25.4 cm × 25.4 cm × 2.5 mm in size were sectioned from the hot band condition. The initial microstructural condition in the hot band was ferrite + pearlite. A number of coupons were subjected to subcritical spheroidization treatments (675 ◦C for 10 h.). The two initial microstructural conditions are illustrated in Figure 2.

**Figure 2.** SEM micrographs of initial microstructures (**a**) ferrite + pearlite and (**b**) spheroidized.
