CA1170006A - Retarded aging, rimmed steel with good surface quality - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A rimmed steel product, in-hot-rolled or cold rolled and annealed form, is made essentially non-aging by inclusion of one or both of the aggng-retardant ele-ments vanadium and boron, while retaining an excellent, clear surface that is not severely affected by the pre-sence of such element or elements. To produce such articles, an ingot mold is poured 80 to 95% full of plain rimming steel, and the molten steel is allowed to rim, e.g. for several minutes, until a rimmed shell solidifies against the mold wall. Then pouring is completed with the same steel, while adding one or both of the aging-retardant elements to the teemed stream. Processed like rimmed steel, ultimate rolled (e.g. strip) products having a thin, truly rimmed skin over a main body of substantially non-aging steel, are found to exhibit no unwanted change of properties (e.g.
as would be revealed by significant strain lines) such as usually characterizes the effect of aging in rimmed steel.
There is some advantage in using the two elements together, or in the simultaneous inclusion of other, strength-promoting elements such as Cb, Zr, Si, and it has been noted that tensile properties are enhanced when V is added, as above, for aging-retardant function.

Description

~ 3 70(~0~

BAC~CG~OUND OF THE INVENTION
l'his inven-tion relates to rimmed steel products and methodsoEprc,du,~il-lg thcm, being pxoduct: resulting from rolling operations, i.e. hot rolling and for presently preferred uses, also cold rolling with appropriate anneal-ing. The invention is more particularly related to rimmed steel products of the stated characterj which are essentially non-aging, the latter term being used herein as equivalent to retarded aging r in the sense of aging being so retarded, e.g. under expected temperatures of use r as to have no significantly adverse effect on the properties of the steel or articles formed from it over indefinite periods of time~
It has long been known that rimmed steel, although having many virtues in the areas of ingo-t metal yield, 1~ superior surface, and good qualities of forming, e.g. draw-ing, bending and the like, and also articles formed from such steel, are susceptible to so-called aging which affects the mechanical properties in a manner which may be undesir-able for some uses. It has also long been known that ; 20 addition of vanadium, i.e. to the molten steel in the ladle before pouring ingotst has the ef~ect of retarding aging in -the ultimate products, resulting in what have been called non-aging rimming steels; in such case, the vanadium has been stated to combine with nitrogen while permitting a mild rimminy action. Addition o~ boron in like manner has been known to have similar effect in retarding againg.
It is found, nevertheless, that the non-aging, vanadium-added or boron-added steels as just described, althollgh purportedly of rimmed character, are deficient especially in that the surface zone is by no means equiva-~ :~ 7(~0~

t lent to that of ordin~ry or plain carbon~ rimmed steel,The clear t clean surface of normal rimmed steel i.s extremely important, for example in such uses as automotive body stock, where a formed surface free from irregularities is re~uired;
the tendency of ~he previous vanadium-added (or boron-added) steels is to e~hibi~ rela-tively poor surfaces, unsuitable for the purposes. A special requirement is for a rimmed steel sheet ~hich in cold-rolled, annealed, and temper rolled condition exhibits little or no Luders strain (with charac-teristic surface lines) and which after forming, and after an interval that normally involves aging, exhibits noappearance of Luders strain, returned. Hence, there has remained a need for an essentially non-aging rimmed steel having the advantages of such steel, in production and use, and having excellent surface characteristics especially in the cold-rolled, annealed and temper rolled condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is predicated on the finding that significant improvement in rimmed steel products as defined above is attainabIe by providing a cast ingot ln which there is an outer layer or skin of fully rimmed steel, of normal composition for rimming, surrounding an ultimately olidified core of the same composition but including a significant con-tent of vanadium or boron (or both) for retarding aging.
Thus, the basic composition may be 0.04 to 0.12% (most usually 0.07 to 0.11%) carbon, 0.2 to 0.8% manganese, 0.035 max.. % sulfur, balance iron and incidentals; all percentages herein are in weight percent. The new products are made by a special procedure, as follows: Molten steel, as of the above base composition, is poured into an ingot mold up to ~ 1 ~QOO~

1 a filling level of ~0% or more, e.g. between 80~ and 95%
and preferably around 85% to 90~. Teeming is interrupted and the effervesc~nl rimrnin~s action which characterizes this basic melt is allowed to proceed, as for at least one minute, preferably from two to five minutes or even more (depending on conditions, or on the desired outer layer), until a shell or skin next to the mold wall has solidified, as to a thickness of 0.75 -to 4 inches, Then pouring is resumed from the ladle, i.e. metal of the same composi;
tion, but with simultaneous addition of vanadium or boron, for example by feeding small particles of ferro-vanadium ~e.g. 35 to 80% V) or ferro-boron, into the stream of molten metal or into the molten core, to provide a content of O.Ol to 0.2% V in the core, or up to 0.05~ B.
The operation of back~filling the mold, i.e. com-pleting the filling in the manner stated while adding vanadium or boron (or both) causes the additional material to mix into the molten core of the partly cast ingot, whereby the completed ingot has a vanadium-added or boron-added core surrounded by an outer layer of plain rimmed steel which becomes essentially pure ferrite. The core re-tains some rimming action even after back-filllng, and in consequence, the total solidification practice may be essentially as for normal rimming steel, with relatively short, so-called track time, being the interval needed between teeminy and the time for moving the filled ingot mold from the melt shop to the soaking pit area, in contrast to the requirements of aluminum killed steel which is the usual non-aging alternative. The ingot yield of metal is ~ also, as is characteristic of rimmed steel, greater than ~ ~ 7~00~

1 for AK steels, so that for these reasons, production capacity is increased and likewise shipping capability, in comparison with aluminum killed metal inrespect to which the present products have many of the same properties and uses, as will be apparent hereinbelow.
Ingots so produced are processed by conventional operations appropriate to plain rimmed steel, i.e. rolled to slabs~ hot rolled to strip (e.g. ~.06 to 0.5 inch thick), pickled, cold rolled to the desired final gauge, then annealed (continuously or as coils) at suitable temperature under protective atmosphere, and if desired, temper rolled.
The steel is also eminently useful in as-hot-rolled form (such as strip), e.g. hot rolled black or hot rolled pickled.
Each product derived from the ingots so produced, whether hot rolled or cold rolled, has a thin skin at its principal surface (i.e. consisting of both sides of the strip) which is pLain rimmed steel lacking aging-retardant elements and is thus essentia]ly ferrite with a clear, clean surface, normal for such steel. At the same time, the body or core of the product contains vanadium or boron, and provldes an essentially non-aging steel article, but lacking the surface problems of previous vanadium-added or boron-added, rimmed steels. Moreover, in the pouring operation described above, the rimming action (e.g. for several minutes) prior to the ~5 addition of vanadium or boron allows the nitrogen level in the molten portion of the ingot to stabilize; hence, better control of the stabilizing action of the additive is achieved, i.e. more control of the V- or B-nitrogen reaction, in contrast to addition of V or B at the outset. As stated, the products have essentially the same freedom from aging as Q ~
aluminum-killed steels, in that by tests sufficient to demonstrate absence of aging, there is no material change in properties over extended periods of time (e.g. 30 days at room temperature) or upon so--called artificial aging (e.g. 1 or 2 hours at 212F), while the products have greatly superior surface properties as compared with pre-vious vanadium-added and boron-added rimmed steels and especially as compared with aluminum-killed steels tha-t are notorious for inclusions at or near the surface. It has also been discovered that the new products, especially where vanadium is added in suitable amount, and for example when converted to the cold-rolled and annealed state, have unexpectedly higher yield strength than ordinary, vanadium-free, rimmed steels of otherwise identical composition.
The present invention is directed to a rimmed steel product which is produced by rolling and which is essentially non-aging. It consists of a skin of rimmed steel which is essentially ferrite, over the principal surface area of the product, and a core of substantially non-aging rimmed steel beneath the skin. The steel of the skin consists essentially of 0.04 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8%
Mn, and 0.035 max. % S, balance iron and incidental elements.
The core consists essentially of 0.04 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8~ Mn, 0.035 max. % S, together with aging-retardant element or elements selected from the group consisting of 0.075 to 0.2% V, 0.009 to 0.04% B, or 0.03 to 0.2% V and 0.005 to 0.04% B. The core also contains one or more elements from the group consisting of 0 to 0.01% Cb, 0 to 0.15% Si, 0 to 0.01% Ti, 0 to 0.01% Zr, and 0 to 0.01% A1, balance iron and incidental elements.
The present invention is also directed to an essentially non-aging rimmed steel product, produced by 7~

~ 1 7(~
rolling, which consists of an essentially ferrite skin of rimmed steel over the principal surface area of the product, and a core of substantially non-aging rimmed steel beneath the skin, wherein the skin consists essentially of 0.05 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, and 0.035 max. % S, balance iron and incidental elements, and the core consists essentially of 0.05 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, 0.035 max. % S, together with aging-retardant element or elements selected from the group consisting of 0.075 to 0.2% V, 0.009 to 0.04%
B or 0.03 to 0.2% V and 0.005 to 0.04% B.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method of making an essentially non-aging rolled product of rimmed steel. The method comprises the following steps:
pouring an ingot mold 80% to 95% full of molten steel con-sisting essentially of 0.04 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, 0.035 max. % S, balance iron and incidental elements;
allowing this filling to undergo rimming action while a shell of rimmed steel solidifies next to the mold surround-ing a still-molten core; and then completing pouring of the molten steel into the ingot mold while adding to the molten steel in the mold sufficient material to provide in the finished core steel having the aforesaid composition together with aging-retardant element or elements selected from the group consisting of 0.075 to 0.2% V, 0.009 to 0.04% B, or 0.03 to 0.2% V and 0.005 to 0.04% B, and also together with 0 to 0.01% Cb, 0 to 0~15% Si, 0 to 0.01% Ti, 0 to 0.01% Zr and 0 to 0.01% Al; and after solidification of the ingot, converting the same by rolling to a rolled product having a skin of rimmed steel which is essentially ferrite, over the principal surface area of the product.
Further details and examples of the inventlon are set forth hereinbelow.

- 5a -1 1 7()(~0~

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In partlcular, the invention is carried out by preparing a melt of rimming steel, e.g~ 0.07 to 0.11% C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, 0.035 mc~x. % S, in a suitable furnace such as a so-called basic oxygen type furnace or one employing a similar process. Such melt is used in the firs-t stage of pouring each ingot, the steel in the ladle being teemed into the ingot mold un-til the latter is, for instance, 85%
to 90% full; the flow is then interrupted. While similar partial filling is performed in one or more further ingot molds, the first poured steel, which has been undergoing rimming action, freezes against the walls of khe mold, thus yielding a solidified shell or skin. Such action may require from two to five minutes or more, possibly up to 15 mimltes , . . ... .

- 5b -f~.
~1., ~ 1 700~

1 depending on th'ckness desired for the solid ri~ned zone.
This step is then immediately followed by final filling (back-filling) with further steel from the ladle (which is brought back for the purpose), while at the same time add-ing the element vanadium, e.g. as ferro-vanadium, or boron (e.g. ferro-boron),and in the manner described above. ~s will be understood, the ladle can then be moved along for similar back-filling of further partly filled mold or molds that may be waiting.

The added vanadium is found useful for retarded aging in amounts of 0.01 to 0.2% in the ingot core, prefer-able at least 0.04~ to take advantage of the discovery of improved yield strength in the ultimate cold rolled product.
Alternatively, boron, considered the e~uivalent of vanadium for retarded aging, but somewhat more economical, can be similarly added to achieve 0~004 to 0.04~ B in the ingot core. Most conveniently, the addition is made with solid particles of ferro-vanadium, or vanadium alone, or ferro-boron, or boron alone, for example not larger than about 1/4 inch, which are fed directly into the stream of molten steel fàlling from the bottom of the ladle into the mold.
As will be understood, techniques and devices are available for such feeding; the operation can be timed to begin just after the start oE back-filling and to end ~ust before the latter is finished. The vanadium or boron addition can be made in other ways, as directly into the molten core where the teeming metal s-trikes, or alternatively by making wire or rod of the ferro-alloy and pushing such into the molten steel core. The chief aim is to get the addition made not later than the end of back-fillingO

~.~7~

1 By way of one example, four experimental, commercial size ingots were produced, in 67 inch by 88 inch high open top molds eachhaving a capacity of 25 tons, using a base heat of rimming steel of the composition 0.05 % C, 0.35 ~ Mn, 0.01~ % S, balance i~on and incidentals, and following the procedure described above. Each mold was first poured 85 % full, then allowed to rim for four minutes; during back-filling, each mold was injected (in the back-filling stream) with ferro-vanadium containing 40 lbs. of vanadium thereby adding 0.08% V to the core.
These ingots were fully processed, in conventional manner for rimmed steel, through hot and cold rolling, to coils of cold-rolled and annealed steel strip, 59.488 inches wide and 0.031 inch thick. Tests throughout the length o one coil showed highly satisfactory properties as rim~ed steel, with the desired absence of aging and with excellent surface~quality.
As further examples, several other ingots of commer-cial size were produced in accordance with the invention, with vanadium added during back-filling, the 85%-full ingots being allowed first to rim for 4 to 5 minutes ~hile the outer layer solidified. The cold rolled and annealed sheet (stripj product in each case was desirably non-aging and had very good surface quality, as required for automotive and

2~ like purposes.
In one of these instances, the base, rimming ~ composition was 0.11~ C, 0.35% Mn, 0.021% S, balance iron and incidentals; the core additionally contained 0.075% V.
The mechanical properties of the cold rolled strip (0.050 inch thick) included the following:

700n6 1 Yield Strength Tensile Strength Elongation (ksi) tksi) (%) Longitudinal 37.l 52~7 37 Transverse 39.5 54.l 36 In the second of these instances, the base, rimming composition was 0.08% C, 0.34% Mn, 0.025% S, balance iron and incidentals; the core additionally contained 0.093% V.
The mechanicaI properties of the cold rolled strip (0.050 inch thick) included the following:
~ield Strength Tensile Strength Elongation ~ksi) -(ksi) (%) Longitudinal 41.l ~ 52.5 38 Transverse 42.0 53.9 37 The mechanical properties noted in the above two examples were remarkably good (being high yield strength, w1th advantageous elongation) and are now attributed to the ; content of the vanadium;~it does not appear that previous vana-dium-added, rimmed steels~(not produced according to this : : : :
; ~invention) were observed to have any unusual properties of this~sort, i.e. not1ceably different from ordinary rimmed steel. Indeed, normal, vanadium-freej rimmed steels of the ~; base composit1on descr1bed;herein, in the cold rolled and annealed condition, usually exhibit yield strength of less than 30 ksi. To achieve yield strengths in the range of 30 to 50 ksi in the steels of the invention, vanadium contents of 0.04 to 0.20~ are required in the core steel; for example, to reach 50 ksi, at least 0.10% V is deemed requisite.
The result is of special importance for automotive applica-tions of such steel, i~e. for components where thickness can be reduced with a saving of weight while retaining Q n ~

1 desired strength.
Although additions of boron have not, alone, been observed to afford the strength-promoting effects of vanadium, these elements (boron and vanadium), in their respective stated concen-trations, are functional equivalents for the basic purpose of the invention, namely to achieve a substantially non-aging character for the steel products having the excellent surface properties of ordinary rimmed steel. The elements can also be used together (each within the stated ranges) for some mutual enhancement of the non-aging effects; each can then be said to protect the other, i.e~ in the sense of allowing the other to be more effective in its role of combining with and removing from solution nitrogen present in the steel. For example, if boron is considered the primary contributor to the retarding of aging, vanadium can also simultaneously be added in amount up to 0.05~ for protecting the boron as above, or in amounts in the range greater than 0.04% to afford higher tensile propertles as well. V and B are also both oxide formers.
Two further, experimental, commercial-size ingots were produced following the procedure described above, i.e. involving first partly pouring the open-top mold (e~g. 90~) with plain rimming steel, then allowing the rimming metal to stand while a skin solidifies, and finally back-filling while adding further elements (in the teemed stream) to complete the core composition as described below.
To one of these ingots the injection contained both ferro-boron and ferro-vanadium. After suitable hot rolling, the metal from this ingot was converted to two 1 cold-rolled, annealed, and ternper rolled coilsA ~he co~p~-sition of the core steel (considered in effect as that of the strip) was 0.05 to 0.07% C, 0.31 to 0.37% Mn, 0.010~ P, 0.016 to 0.020~ S, 0.03 to 0.04% V and 0.005 to 0.010% B, 5 balance iron and incidentals. Mechanical properties were:
yield strength, 27 to 34 ksi; tensile strength, 44 to 51 ksi; elongation, 36 to 43%. After aging either at 5nO~F
for 15 seconds or at 212~F for 1 hour, the material exhi-bited no Luders strain.
To the molten metal of the other of the ingots, ferro-boron (alone) was injected during back-filling. From the steel of this ingot, after hot rolling, a coil of cold-rolled, annealed and temper rolled steel s~rip was produced, having a skin of rimmed steel at its principal surface area 1~ and internally containing 0.068 to 0.070~ C, 0.28% Mn, 0.010% P, 0.016~ S and 0.009% B. Mechanical properties were: yield strength, 29 to 31 ksi; tensile strength, 43 to 45 ksi; elongation, 40 to 43~. This cold-rolled strip was substantially non-aging; after aging at 212F
for 1 hour, no Luders strain was obser~ed, and after aging at 500~F for 15 seconds, inner laps of the coll exhibited no Luders strain, while outer laps showed very slight but acceptable Luders strain.

Many uses are envisaged for the non aging, good-Z5 surface steel of the present invention, whether as-hot-rolled or cold rolled, such as automotive bwnpers, suspension slides for filing cabinets and other drawers, furniture, dent-resistant automotive panels, and structural parts for automotive and other purposes.

It is conceived that other elements may be added ~ ~ 7(~1)0~

1 to the molten steel core in the ingot mold, along with the aging-retardant material ~anadium and/cr boron) in at least a minimum amount of the latter for its aging-retarding function. Thus, one such elernent is columbium, to have similar effect against aging and in enhancement of tensile properties and also to have a protective function for boron, i.e. to constitute up to 0.0l~, e.g.
0.0C5 to 0.0l~ of the core. Another such element is silicon, to impart solid solution strengthening to the steel (or its equivalent for such purpose, phosphorus), but very preferabIy in amounts insufficient to ha~e any appreciable killing effect, i.e. up to 0.150%, e.g. 0.02 to 0.15% in the core. Other elements which can optionally be added to the core during bac~-filling include titanium (for strengthening and also to have protective effect, e.g. or boron), in amounts up to 0.01%, e.g. 0.00l to 0.0l~
Ti, and likewise zirconium, up to 0.0l~, e.~. 0.00l to 0.0l~
zr,as well as aluminum in protective but non-killing amount, up to 0.01%, e.g. 0.00l to 0.01% Al. In all cases, the supplemental elemen~ or elements can be added in the m~nner described above, as particles or small pieces of ferro-alloy or where possible as the uncombined element or in multi-element alloys with the vanadium or boron, or both, for example being injected into the back-filling stream of molten steel.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific compositions and procedural steps hereinabove described, but may be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit.

Claims (16)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A rimmed steel product which is produced by rolling and is essentially non-aging, consisting of a skin of rimmed steel which is essentially ferrite, over the principal surface area of the product, and beneath said skin a core of substantially non-aging rimmed steel, the steel of said skin consisting essentially of 0.04 to 0.12%
C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, and 0.035 max. % S, balance iron and incidental elements, said core consisting essentially of 0.04 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, 0.035 max. % S, together with aging-retardant element or elements selected from the group consisting of 0.075 to 0.2% V, 0.009 to 0.04% B, or 0.03 to 0.2% V and 0.005 to 0.04% B, said core also con-taining one or more elements from the group consisting of 0 to 0.01% Cb, 0 to 0.15% Si, 0 to 0.01% Ti, 0 to 0.01%
Zr, and 0 to 0.01% Al, balance iron and incidental elements.

2. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 1, in which the core contains 0.075 to 0.2% V.

3. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 1, in which the core contains 0.04% to n. 04% B.

4. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 1, which is cold-rolled and annealed strip and contains 0.05 to 0.11% C.

5. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 4, in which the core contains 0.075 to 0.2% V.

6. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 4, in which the core contains 0.009 to 0.04% B.

7 A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 1, which is cold-rolled and annealed strip in which the core contains 0 075 to 0.2% V.

8. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 1, which is cold-rolled and annealed strip in which the core contains 0.009 to 0.04% B.

- Page 1 of Claims - 12

9. A rimmed steel product which is produced by rolling and is essentially non-aging, consisting of a skin of rimmed steel which is essentially ferrite, over the principal surface area of the product, and beneath said skin a core of substantially non-aging rimmed steel, the steel of said skin consisting essentially of 0.05 to 0.12%
C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, and 0.035 max. % S, balance iron and incidental elements, said core consisting essentially of 0.05 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, 0.035 max. % S, together with aging-retardant element or elements selected from the group consisting of 0.075 to 0.2% V, 0.009 to 0.04% B or 0.03 to 0.2% V and 0.005 to 0.04% B.

10. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 9, which has been produced by hot rolling and consists of as-hot-rolled strip having thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 inch.

11. A rimmed steel product as defined in claim 9, which is cold-rolled and annealed strip.

12. A cold-rolled, rimmed steel product as defined in claim 11, in which said skin of ferrite, over each face of the strip, has a thickness of about 0.0003 to 0.003 inch.

13. A method of making an essentially non-aging rolled product of rimmed steel, comprising pouring an ingot mold 80% to 95% full of molten steel consisting essentially of 0.04 to 0.12% C, 0.2 to 0.8% Mn, 0.035 max.% S, balance iron and incidental elements, allowing said filling to undergo rimming action while a shell of rimmed steel solidifies next to the mold surrounding a still-molten core, and then com-pleting pouring of said molten steel into said ingot mold while adding to the molten steel in the mold, sufficient material to provide in the finished core: steel having the aforesaid composition together with aging-retardant element or elements selected from the group consisting of 0.075 to 0.2% V, 0.009 to 0.04% B, or 0.03 to 0.2% V and 0.005 to - Page 2 of Claims -0.04% B, and also together with 0 to 0.01% Cb, 0 to 0.15%
Si, 0 to 0.01% Ti, 0 to 0.01% Zr and 0 to 0.01% Al; and after solidification of the ingot, converting the same by rolling to a rolled product having a skin of rimmed steel which is essentially ferrite, over the principal surface area of the product.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, in which the first-described pouring of steel is to about 85 to 90% of filling of the mold and in which the addition of aging-retardant element or elements to the molten steel in the mold includes vanadium in sufficient amount to pro-vide 0.075 to 0.2% V in the finished core.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, in which the aging-retarding element or elements are added to the molten steel in the mold by adding at least one of the alloys ferro-vanadium and ferro-boron.

16. A method as defined in claim 13, in which after said first-described pouring of steel, said partial filling of the mold is allowed to stand, before said completion of pouring, for a time of about 2 to 5 minutes, to permit solidification of said shell to about 0.75 to 4 inches thick.

- Page 3 of Claims -