The influence of annealing processes ( continuous annealing at 820 ℃

bell type annealing at 670 °C and at 730 °C ) and flattening elongation (0.8%

1.2% and 1.5% ) on structure and mechanical properties of 0.4 mm cold- rolled thin sheet of 08Al steel (0. 07% C

0.05% Al

0.004 0% N) for clad wire has been tested and studied. Results show that the structure of continuous-annealed thin sheet is ferrite + pearlite

it has higher yield strength (300 MPa) and strength-yield ratio (0. 78)

lower elongation (35% ) and poor plasticity

not suitable to press and shape; of bell type annealed at 730 °C the grains are coarse and uneven with poor shaping performance ； of bell type annealed at 670 °C the structure of thin sheet is recrystallized ferrite and particle- or chain-shaped free cementite

it has lower yield strength (252 MPa) and strength-yield ratio ( 0. 69)

higher elongation (48% ) and nice shaping performance; with increasing flattening elongation the yield strength and strength-yield ratio decrease first and then increase

and the elongation decreases

the suitable flatting elongation is about 1. 2% with nice shaping performance and better application results.