Centre De Recherches Metallurgiques-centrum Voor Research in De

Centre De Recherches Metallurgiques

Philippe A Paulus

Marios Economopoulos

Jules Hancart

Vittorino Tusset

Mario Econompoulos

The continuous steel-sheet heat-treatment plant comprises, in sequence, a zone in which the sheet is heated to a temperature above the recrystallization temperature, a zone in which the sheet is held at this temperature for more than 30 seconds, a rapid cooling zone, an optional overaging zone, and a final cooling zone. The rapid cooling zone has devices for spraying a cooling fluid and a tank containing an aqueous bath at above 75.degree. C.

Continuous heat treatment plant for steel sheet

A metallurgical product, e.g. wire rod emerging from a hot rolling mill, is subjected to controlled cooling by immersing it in a bath, e.g. an aqueous bath, kept at a given temperature. During immersion, the bath is stirred, e.g. mechanically or by means of a fluid. In a controlled cooling installation a cover arranged above the bath has a condenser for recovering vapor from the bath.

Method of and apparatus for controlled cooling of metallurgical products

Steel sheet is subjected to a thermal treatment as a result of which an oxide layer is formed. The sheet is pickled by contact with an organic acid solution (formic acid), containing at least 50 mg/l of iron, at a pH of 1.5 to 4 and at a temperature above a minimum value T.sub.m given by T.sub.m =20+(pH-1.5)32.

Continuous treatment of steel sheet

Metal sheet (cold-rolled steel sheet) contaminated with rolling oil is heated at a temperature higher than its recrystallization temperature in a naked flame furnace, e.g. of the incomplete combustion type. The heated sheet is then rapidly cooled by contact with an aqueous medium. The resulting sheet has considerably improved suitability for phosphate coating and painting, compared with sheet which is annealed after alkaline degreasing. The sheet is preferably treated with formic acid.

Continuous heat treatment for metal sheet

In a continuous heat-treatment process, cold-rolled steel strip having a thickness of 0.05 to 1 mm, e.g. for producing tin plate, is heated to 650.degree.-850.degree. C. and held in this temperature range for more than 1 s. The strip is then quenched for less than 12 seconds in an aqueous bath at above 75.degree. C., the strip emerging at below 550.degree. C. Temperatures, times, and subsequent steps such as overaging and final cooling are chosen depending on the hardness desired.

Continuous heat-treatment process for steel strip

Steel strip is dipped in a molten metal bath (e.g. Al-Zn) maintained at above 500.degree. C., cooled to solidify the metal coating, and then cooled to below 475.degree. C. by an intense and rapid cooling operation which does not impair the flatness of the strip, e.g. immersion in a hot aqueous bath or spraying a mist. Before hot-dipping, the steel strip is preferably recrystallisation annealed and cooled to a temperature not lower than that of the molten metal bath.

Manufacturing coated steel strip

Metal strip, particularly steel strip, is heated to above 250.degree. C. and quenched in a phosphating bath, at 80.degree. C. or more, containing one or more phosphates of the type Me (H.sub.2 PO.sub.4).sub.n, where Me=Zn, Ni, Mn, or an alkali metal, at a concentration of 1 to 20 g/l.

Surface treatment of metal strip

Cold-rolled steel sheet or strip (e.g. containing max. 0.15% C., max. 0.60% Mn, max. 0.020% Si, and 0.001-0.050% B) is heated to a temperature higher than its recrystallization temperature and then cooled by immersion in an aqueous bath at above 75.degree. C. The cooling by immersion consists of two successive stages, in the first of which cooling occurs at a rate of 25.degree.-180.degree. C./s to 200.degree.-425.degree. C., the product of the cooling rate v in .degree. C./s times the sheet or strip thickness e in mm being greater than 25, and in the second of which v is 90.degree.-500.degree. C./s and v times e is at least 35. Optionally a further annealing or overageing step comprises holding at 275.degree.-525.degree. C. for 30-250 s.

Method of continuously heat-treating steel sheet or strip

Wire rod is subjected to a cooling operation while emerging from a hot rolling mill. The rod is first cooled to a temperature of 850.degree. to 650.degree. C. and is then kept at substantially this temperature for a time sufficient for austenite to be transformed into ferrite. The rod is then cooled to a temperature of 625.degree. to 400.degree. C., and is kept at substantially this temperature, or allowed to cool slowly, for a time not shorter than 15 seconds and sufficiently long to permit precipitation of carbon in the form of carbides.

Method of treating wire rod

Steel strip is first heated to a predetermined temperature suitable for imparting desired properties to the strip and is then immersed in an aqueous bath maintained at substantially its boiling temperature. The composition of the aqueous bath is preferably adjusted to ensure the formation of an oxide film on the entire surface of the strip. After the strip has been withdrawn from the bath, oxide is eliminated from at least part of the surface of the strip, e.g., from one or both faces, by removal of the oxide or by reduction of the oxide. Simultaneously or subsequently, the strip is heated to a given temperature, e.g., 420.degree.-550.degree. C., maintained at this temperature, and immersed at this temperature in molten zinc.

Production of galvanized steel strip

Cold-rolled steel strip is heated to a temperature higher than its recrystallization temperature, preferably faster than 4.degree. C/s. The strip is then held for more than 30 seconds. The strip is then cooled by immersion in an aqueous bath maintained at substantially its boiling temperature within a temperature range of 80.degree.-150.degree. C.

Growing community of inventors

Liege, Belgium

Philippe A Paulus