In this paper, the effect of batch-annealing temperature on the oxidation of 22MnB5 steel during austenitizing was studied. When the batch-annealing temperature was decreased from 690 to 680 °C, the surface roughness of cold-rolled 22MnB5 steel decreased, which reduced the oxide layer thickness during the subsequent austenitizing process and had little effect on the mechanical properties in the cold-rolled and quenched state. This indicated that oxidation during austenitizing could be reduced by properly reducing the batch-annealing temperature without affecting the mechanical properties.
