IF-steels have a nearly complete fixation of all interstitial
dissolved nitrogen and carbon atoms, i.e. neutralisation of N and
C. The complete 'killing' of the steel is performed by the
micro-alloying titanium and:or niobium. By this method, the N and C
atoms are 'arrested' and all negative effects described by the
'Cottrell-Cloud' theory are very much reduced or even abolished:
These are the upper- and lower-yield point (yield-point effect,
discontinuous yielding), strain aging and blue brittleness.