Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22C—ALLOYS
  • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22C—ALLOYS
  • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/24—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with vanadium

Definitions

• the invention relates to a chromium containing high strength steel sheet which is excellent in mechanical work-ability and has good corrosion resistance.
• the steel sheet according to the invention is suitable for use in the manufacture of automobile bodies and other shaped articles.
• the steel according to the invention is delivered on market in the form of hot rolled strip or sheet, or cold rolled strip or sheet. These products are generally referred to herein as steel sheets.
• High strength steels for automobile bodies include dissolution strengthened steels having dissolved Si and Mn, transformation strengthened steels wherein transformed second phases such as martensite and bainite phases are utilized, precipitation strengthened steels and steels wherein combined strengthening mechanisms are utilized. Steel sheets of these high strength steels are also utilized as a substrate in the production of surface treated steel sheets. In order to appreciably lighten automobile bodies in weight, it is necessary to use steel sheets having a tensile strength of at least 40 kgf/mm 2 .
• the surface treated steel sheets include hot dip coated steel sheets and electrically plated steel sheets.
• it has been practiced to increase an amount of coating or plating metal, to coat or plate an alloy or to apply composite coating or plating layers.
• the surface treated steel sheets have an excellent corrosion resistance, they suffer from such a problem that when press formed, for example, deeply drawn, they frequently invite a trouble called "powdering" or "flaking” in the art, that is splintering off of the coating or plating layer.
• Another problem is that they do not necessarily have a satisfactory spot- and arc-weldability. The problems are particularly serious in cases wherein the coating or plating layer is made thicker to improve corrosion resistance.
• JP A 2-156048 discloses chromium containing steel sheets having 3 to 12 % of Cr and relatively small amounts of Cu, Ni, Al and Ti.
• JP B 1-53344 discloses Cr containing corrosion resistive steel sheets having Ti-Al added so as to enhance forming workability.
• JP A 2-50940 discloses Cr containing corrosion resistive steel sheets having Nb-Al added so as to enhance deep drawability.
• Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 10, no. 390 (C-394) [2447], 1986, (JP-A-61177378) discloses a steel sheet having superior suitability to coating with paints.
• the products are obtained by chromating a chromium containing steel substrate containing, by weight, up to 0.02 % of C, from 0.5 to 20 % of Cr and 0.005 to 0.10 % of acid soluble Al so as to form a coating layer consisting of metallic Cr of 1 to 300 mg/m 2 and a layer of Cr oxide hydrate of 5 to 50 mg/m 2 in terms of metallic Cr.
• the substrate steel sheet may contain one or more of Ti, Nb, Zr and V in an amount of from 0.03 to 0.5 %.
• Steels taught by JP A 2-156048 contain Cu snd Ni capable of strengthening steel by dissolution therein. However, Cu and Ni are added for a purpose of enhancing corrosion resistance, and all steels specifically disclosed therein have an insufficient tensile strength of 38 kfg/mm 2 or less. While some of steels specifically disclosed in JP B 1-53344 are incorporated with Cu and Ni, their strength is still insufficient.
• corrosion resistive stainless steels are known. They are, however, economically disadvantageous because of their large content of Cr, Furthermore, different from a cold rolled sheet of conventional mild steel which is corroded on a whole surface, with corrosion resistive stainless steel sheets corrosion proceeds, while locally forming pits, which may pose a problem in some cases wherein a deep corrosion depth should be avoided.
• the invention provides a high strength chromium containing steel sheet having a tensile strength of at least 40 kgf/mm 2 , which comprises, by weight, C up to 0.030 %, Si up to 3.0 %, Mn up to 3.0 %, P up to 0.150 %, S up to 0.010 %, Ni up to 2.0 %, Cr not less than 5.0 % and less than 11.0 %, N up to 0.030 %, V not less than 0.01 % and not more than 0.10 %, Cu up to 2.0 %, the amounts of Si, Mn, P, Ni and Cu being adjusted so that the relation: Si + Mn + 10P + Ni + Cu > 1.0 % is satisfied, the balance being iron and unavoidable impurities.
• the invention further provides a high strength chromium containing steel sheet excellent in corrosion resistance and workability, which in addition to the above-mentioned alloying elements in the above-mentioned proportions, further comprises, by weight, at least one of 0.01 to 0.30 % of Ti, 0.01 to 0.30 % of Nb, 0.01 to 0.30 % of Zr, 0.01 to 0.20 % of Al and 0.0002 to 0.0200 % of B.
• the target of workability intended herein is a combination of a mean Lankford value of at least 1.3 and a relatively high elongationa, although depending upon the tensile strength, for example, an elongation of at least 30 % in a case wherein the tensile strength is at least 50 kgf/mm 2 .
• the mean Lankford value is a measure of deep drawability and is an average of Lankford values in rolling direction, in direction at an angle of 45° to the rolling direction, in direction at an angle of 90° to the rolling direction, and in direction at an angle of 135° to the rolling direction.
• the target of workability intended herein is a bore expansion ratio of at least 1.0. This ratio is a measure of burring workability.
• C deteriorates elongation and weldability of the steel, although it strengthen the steel, and therefore, the lower the C, the more preferable. Furthermore, from the view points of deep drawability of cold rolled steel sheets and corrosion resistance, the lower the C, the more preferable. Thus, C should be controlled 0.030 % or less, preferably 0.010 % or less.
• Si is an element which is effective for deoxygenation and for strengthening the steel by dissolution in a ferritic phase. However, an unduly high Si reduces toughness thereby rendering the steel susceptible to cracking upon cold rolling or mechanical working. Si should be 3.0 % or less.
• Mn is an element which is effective to improve hot workability of the steel and toughness of weld zones of the steel. Furthermore, although Mn has a limited ability of strengthening the steel by its dissolution, it is effective to design strengthening of steel by transformation, since Mn is an austenite former serving to lower A 1 and A 3 transformation points whereby martensite and benite phases may ready be formed in addition to ferritic phase. However, the presence of Mn in excess of 3.0 % makes it difficult to form an appreciable amount of ferritic phase thereby to adversely affect workability of the steel, the upper limit for Mn is now set as 3. 0 %.
• P is an element which is very effective to strengthen the steel by its dissolution.
• an unduly high P content acts to lower toughness of the steel, and therefore, the upper limit for P is now set as 0.150 %.
• S control is one of the most critical features of the invention. Since S adversely affects corrosion resistance, particularly rust proof property, of low chromium steel, the lower the S, the more preferable. S should be controlled 0.010 % or less, preferably 0.005 % or less.
• Ni and Cu like Mn, improve toughness of weld zones of the steel and are effective to design strengthening of steel by transformation. Furthermore, they also have an ability of strengthening steel by dissolution therein. However, addition of excessive amounts of Ni and Cu increases manufacturing costs, and therefore, the upper limit for each of them is now set as 2.0 %.
• Cr is an element which is indispensable for enhancing corrosion resistance of the steel.
• the effect of Cr is still promoted by reduction of S, as mentioned above, and by addition of a small amount of V, as described below.
• At least 5.0 % of Cr is required to realize a desired level of corrosion resistance.
• an excessively high Cr not only invites expensive costs, but also lowers workability of the steel sheet.
• corrosion proceeds, while forming pits which can be deep. Accordingly, the upper limit for Cr is now set as 11.0 %.
• N is like C the smaller the better from the view point of workability of steel sheets. N should be controlled 0.030 % or less, preferably 0.010 % or less.
• V is another critical feature of the invention. Conjoint addition of a small amount of V with Cr brings about a further enhancement of corrosion resistance of steel sheets. While the mechanism for this effect of V is not yet exactly understood, it is believed that V serves to promote the formation of Cr coating in passive state. For this effect at least 0.01 % of V is required. As the V content increases and exceeds 0.10 %, the effect of V to enhance corrosion resistance is saturated and the steel sheet becomes hard. Accordingly, the upper limit for V is now set as 0.10 %.
• Ti, Nb, Zr, Al and B are elements which are effective for enhancing deep drawability of cold rolled steel sheets. B further acts to control becoming brittle induced by deep drawing, and is, therefore, effective to improve secondary workability of cold rolled sheets.
• B further acts to control becoming brittle induced by deep drawing, and is, therefore, effective to improve secondary workability of cold rolled sheets.
• at least 0.01 % of Ti, Nb, Zr or Al, or at least 0.0002 % of B is required. Excessive addition of these elements does not brings about further improvement to these effects, rather deteriorates surface quality of the products and invites increase in manufacturing costs. Accordingly, the upper limits of 0.30 %, 0.20 % and 0.0200 % are hereby set for Ti, Nb and Zr, for Al and for B, respectively.
• Si + Mn + 10P + Ni + Cu is a measure based on an ability of the elements for strengthening the steel sheet due to dissolution thereof in a ferritic phase. In order to achieve a tensile strength of at least 40 kg/mm 2 , the above-mentioned term should be adjusted above 1.0 %.
• a cold rolled steel sheet excellent in deep drawability according to the invention can be advantageously by providing a molten steel having a suitable chemical composition by a conventional steel making process, continuously casting the molten steel to a slab, heating the slab to an appropriate temperature within the range between 1100 °C.
• a hot rolling step including a finish pass of hot rolling at a temperature within the range for for forming a single austenitic phase, a controlled cooling to a selected coiling temperature of at least 500 °C.and coiling at that temperature to provide a hot rolled strip having a fine grained ferritic structure, pickling the hot rolled strip, cold rolling the pickled strip at high reduction rate of at least 70 %, and annealing the cold rolled strip.
• a hot rolled steel sheet according to the invention which is mild and excellent in burring workability can be advantageously by continuously casting the a molten steel having a suitable chemical composition to a slab, heating the slab to an appropriate temperature within the range between 1100 °C. and 1300 °C., and subjecting the slab to a hot rolling step including a finish pass of hot rolling at a temperature within the range for for forming a single austenitic phase, a controlled cooling to a selected coiling temperature of at least 400 °C.and coiling at that temperature to provide a hot rolled strip having a fine grained ferritic structure.
• the schedule of hot rolling passes, the controlled cooling after the finish pass of hot rolling and the coiling temperature should be suitably selected so that the transformation of austenite to fine ferrite may properly proceed and complete.
• a hot rolled steel sheet according to the invention which is strong and still has good burring workability can be obtained by forming a fine duplex structure of a clear recrystallized ferritic phase and other hard phases in which the transformation to ferrite is not yet completed. This can be realized by selecting a higher cooling rate after the finish pass of hot rolling and a lower coiling temperature.
• the hot rolled steel sheets may be optionally pickled and/or annealed after coiling.
• the steel sheet is softened by annealing at a temperature within the range for ferrite.
• the steel sheet is strengthened by heating to a higher temperature within the range for austenite, followed by cooling to form a duplex structure of ferritic and transformed phases.
• the steel sheet according to the invention of a duplex structure has a better strength-elongation balance than that of a ferritic structure.
• the steel sheet according to the invention can also be used as a substrate steel sheet which is to be coated with one or more layers of Zn, Ni, Cu, Al, Pb, Sn, Fe or B, or alloys thereof.
• Each steel having a component composition indicated in Table 1 was prepared by melting, cast into a strand, which was divided into two halves. One half was hot rolled to to a thickness of 4 mm, descaled, cold rolled to a thickness of 0.8 mm (reduction rate of 80 %) and annealed at a temperature of 780 °C. for 1 minute to provide a cold rolled strip, which was tested for tensile properties, Lankford value (r) and corrosion resistance. The other half was hot rolled to a thickness of 2.2 mm, and annealed at a temperature of 780 °C. for 10 minutes to provide a hot rolled strip, which was tested burring wokability by carrying out a bore-expansion test noted below.
• Each tensile property was measured on JIS No. 5 test specimens in the rolling direction, in directions at 45 ° to the rolling direction and in a direction at 90 ° to the rolling direction, and an average value thereof was calculated.
• the r value was measured on JIS No. 13B test specimens in the rolling direction, in directions at 45 ° to the rolling direction and in a direction at 90 ° to the rolling direction, and an average value ( r ⁇ ) thereof was calculated.
• Corrosion resistance was examined by carrying out a salt spray test in accordance with JIS Z 2371 for 100 hours. At the end of the period percent area which had gotten rust was determined. Further, an average of depths of the deepest five pits was determined.
• the specimen was held on a dice equipped with bead by means of a wrinkle preventer in a condition of free from material flow, and the bore was expanded to a final diameter using a conical ponch.
• the largest final diameter d that invited no cracking of the material was determined.
• a bore-expansion ratio ⁇ (d - d o )/d o was calculated. Results are shown in Table 2. Table 2 Steel No.
• cold rolled steel sheets according to the invention have a tensile strength of at least 40 kg/mm 2 , a good elongation and excellent forming workability such as deep drawability as represented by an average r ⁇ value of at least 1.3. They further have excellent corrosion resistance as represented by low percent area which got rust and small corrosion depth in the salt spray test.
• Hot rolled steel sheets according to the invention have excellent forming workability such as burring workability as represented by a large bore-expansion ratio of at least 1.0.
• Control steel No. 11 has a Cr content as low as 3.40 %, and, therefore, it has poor corrosion resistance although it has good workability.
• Control steels Nos. 12 and 13 respectively contain 12.25 % and 12.45 % of Cr, in excess of the upper limit for Cr prescribed herein, and, therefore, cold rolled sheets made these steels is unsatisfactory in deep drawability as revealed by their low r ⁇ values. Further, hot rolled sheets made of Control steels Nos. 12 and 13 have lower bore-expansion ratios.
• Control steels Nos. 15 and 16 which contain no V are poor in corrosion resistance as represented by their larger percent rust area than Steels Nos. 1 and 2 according to the invention which are well comparable with Control steels No. 14 and 15.
• Control steel No. 17 having an unduly high S content is poor in corrosion resistance.
• the invention provides a high chromium containing steel sheet excellent in corrosion resistance and workability as a material for use in the manufacture of automobile bodies and other shaped articles for which high grade rust proof and corrosion resistance are desired.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Heat Treatment Of Sheet Steel (AREA)
• Heat Treatment Of Steel (AREA)

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• 1990
  • 1990-12-28 JP JP2415495A patent/JP3027012B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1991
  • 1991-12-23 DE DE69126956T patent/DE69126956T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-12-23 EP EP91122110A patent/EP0492576B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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