An investigation was made on the diameter dependence of the critical drawing strain for the delamination of drawn high carbon steel wires, in comparison with the effect of a new patenting method. The new method, which was designed to retard pearlite transformation with the aid of high pressure, made it possible to obtain thick rods transfomed at the nose temperature as the thin rod patented conventionally. This method proved that the critical drawing strain for delamination did improve. Texture measurement showed the development of {110}‹110› and {110}‹114› cylindrical textures, and the deck of cards deformation mode was observed frequently in the wires patented by the new method.
The relation between the texture change and the orientation relationship of pearlite is discussed.