EP3132062A1

EP3132062A1 - Method and device for producing a steel strip

Info

Publication number: EP3132062A1
Application number: EP15716060.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Leander Ahorner
Original assignee: Voestalpine Precision Strip GmbH
Current assignee: Voestalpine Precision Strip GmbH
Priority date: 2014-04-15
Filing date: 2015-04-15
Publication date: 2017-02-22
Also published as: US20170044643A1; WO2015158795A1; EP2933342A1; JP2017514996A; KR20170012224A; CN106460081A; BR112016023820A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing a steel strip, in particular a steel strip having a bainitic microstructure, such as for example a spring steel strip or a punching tool, wherein the steel strip is made to pass continuously through the following treatment steps: austenitization of the steel strip at a first temperature above the austenitization temperature; quenching of the steel strip, by means of a gaseous quenchant, to a lower, second temperature selected in accordance with a desired steel microstructure. According to the invention, the gaseous quenchant is conducted onto the steel strip in such a manner that uniform cooling is achieved over the width of the steel strip.

Description

Method and device for producing a steel strip

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a strip steel, in particular a strip steel with bainitic microstructure, such as a spring steel strip or a punching tool.

Such spring band or punching tools are usually prepared from a hot rolled and pickled carbonaceous steel strip, which is typically first cold rolled to the desired thickness and then subjected to various treatment steps to the

To influence the strength properties of the strip steel. Subsequently, the original wide strip steel is longitudinally divided and finalized in the desired dimensions in individual strips.

To influence the strength properties of the steel strip in a

Passing process performed by various treatment facilities, where it is first cured by heating and subsequent cooling and then changed by tempering and cooling in terms of its toughness properties. Depending on the heating and cooling profile, the strip steel in the

Passing through treatment facilities different microstructures in the material can be generated. A particularly preferred microstructure for carbon steels is the so-called bainite microstructure, which can be produced during the heat treatment of carbon steel by isothermal conversion as well as by continuous cooling. For as complete as possible

Conversion requires certain cooling rates and

Temperatures during the hold time in the oven during the isothermal or

to maintain quasi-isothermal conversion. German patent application DE 10 2005 054 014 A discloses a process for producing a strip steel having a bainitic structure in a continuous process, in which the starting material is heated at a temperature above the

Austenitizing austenitizing temperature, the starting material then in a Metal bath to a temperature lower than the Austenitisierungstemperatur deters and keeps in a hot air oven heated to the conversion temperature for bainite. After the holding phase, the steel strip is cooled to ambient temperature. A typical metal bath that can be used to quench the strip steel located above the austenitizing temperature is a lead / bismuth melt.

However, disadvantages are associated with metal bath quenching. By the

The use of heavy metals such as lead and bismuth in the annealing of steel strip involves the risk of heavy metal contamination in the form of dust, vapors and splashes both in the immediate working area of the molten bath and in the handling of the molten metal. It can also be through

Carryover and adhesion to the belt surface, in particular to the

Band edges, even in subsequent steps to a

Workplace contamination with heavy metals come. In addition, steel strips treated in this way are unsuitable in many fields of application or must first be laboriously cleaned or coated. In addition, high costs are incurred in the maintenance and disposal of the melt material and also in the disposal of correspondingly contaminated secondary materials, such as

for example, arranged after the metal bath scrapers.

It is also known to use a gas stream for strip cooling following an annealing treatment. For example, C. Brugnera, La Revue de Metallurgie, Vol. 89, No. 12 (1 December 1992), pp. 1093-1099, describes a process for rapid cooling of a metal strip by means of a gas flow. However, with the method described by Brugnera no bainitic

Microstructure are generated. One is the one in Brugnera

Starting temperature of 750-850 ° C too low and secondly, according to the temperature profile shown in Figure 2, first a slow cooling to 650 ° C, followed by a rapid cooling to 400 ° C described. Also, this rapid cooling takes place only with a cooling rate of about 40 ° C per

Second, what a bainitic structure is too slow. In addition, on page 1095 different cooling methods are described, with the upper limit for a gas cooling is called a cooling rate of about 80 ° C per second.

Further, H. Lochner et al. in steel and iron, Vol. 128, No. 7,

(January 1, 2008), pp. 45-48, a method for quenching steel strips by means of a hydrogen gas stream for the purpose of martensite formation. This medium and high carbon steel strips are significantly reduced

Nozzle distances, with high gas outlet speeds and optimized

Cooled gas without prejudice. Highly alloyed martensitic

Chromium steels are made with a two-stage quench and one with it

hardened influence on the flatness of the tapes hardened.

Also in Lochner egg al. The prior art described is not suitable for the production of a strip steel with bainitic microstructure. This requires not only starting from a temperature above the austenitizing temperature, i. above about 900 ° C, a quenching of the steel strip to a temperature in the bainitization with a high cooling rate, but the temperature in the bainitization must also despite the exothermic conversion of the

Structure should be kept as constant as possible.

In order to achieve a complete conversion of the supercooled austenite to bainite, it is also necessary to make the quenching of the austenitizing temperature as uniform as possible over the bandwidth and to stop at a temperature in the range of 400 ° C and convert it into an isothermal hold at this temperature , This can also be done by the in Brugnera and Lochner ei al.

described prior art can not be guaranteed. In these

Plant executions becomes a special circumstance of the cooling off of

Steel bands, especially wider bands not taken into account. Because of the additional surface on the narrow side of the band cool the

Band edges faster than the rest of the band area and it arises

Temperature difference to the more central band areas

(Edge effect). In addition, since the heat-dissipating gas can be derived less well above the band center than at the strip edges, an even higher Temperature difference. As a consequence, a temperature distribution inhomogeneous over the bandwidth arises. Despite the arranged transversely to the direction of tape travel

Slit nozzles therefore creates a transverse to the strip running direction cooling front (the band edges are cooler than the band center). In the further structural training, an inhomogeneous temperature distribution in the band can negatively affect the

Microstructure transformation or structural constituents and their volumetric composition impact. Since the strength or material properties, e.g. Toughness of the resulting bainite microstructure depends on the transformation temperature, leading a temperature difference between mid-band and the

Band edges during the transformation also to a strength difference. A curved cooling front therefore leads to a different distribution of

Material properties over the bandwidth.

Curved cooling fronts during quenching have other disadvantages

which not only relate to the hardening of strip steels, but which generally can occur during the cooling of strip steels, for example also when cooling non-hardenable chromium steels. Especially in the initial phase of

Deterrence (i.e., at a still relatively high temperature level) will result in inhomogeneous shrinkage stresses through the curved cooling fronts

Bandwidth caused (tensile stresses at the edges, compressive stresses in the center of the tape), which can lead to plastic deformation of individual band areas. In this respect, temperature differences across the strip running direction during cooling can have a negative effect on the strip flatness. The present invention is therefore based on the technical problem of a method and an apparatus for producing a steel strip, in particular a strip steel with bainitic microstructure, such as a

Federbandstahles or a punching tool, in a continuous

Indicate quenching process, which is absolutely free of metal bath residues, in particular free of heavy metal residues such as lead or bismuth and which a high flatness of the tape and a homogeneous as possible

Ensures microstructure. This technical problem is solved by the method of the present claim 1 or the apparatus of the present claim 13. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention or the

Device according to the invention are objects of the dependent

Claims.

The invention accordingly relates to a method for producing a strip steel, wherein the strip steel is continuously subjected to the following treatment steps: austenitizing the strip steel at a first temperature above the austenitizing temperature and quenching the strip steel by means of a gaseous quenching agent to a lower second temperature corresponding to a desired steel structure is selected. The inventive method is characterized in that the gaseous quenching agent is passed over the strip steel, that over the width of the strip steel, a uniform cooling is achieved.

Due to the use of a gaseous quenching agent according to the invention, heavy metal contamination of both the steel strip and the working environment is effectively prevented. Furthermore, the remuneration of the strip steel is cheaper, because of the use of a

heavy metal associated melt energy and maintenance costs, as well as required in the prior art Nachbearbeitungs- and

Cleaning steps can be saved. The edge effect occurring in the case of gaseous quenching processes is avoided or at least significantly reduced by the method according to the invention, since the quenchant is conducted onto the strip steel in such a way that a uniform cooling is achieved over the width of the strip steel. On a cross-section of the belt, therefore, the belt temperatures in the belt center and at the belt edges are substantially the same. Curved cooling fronts and the associated

Disadvantages such as deterioration of the band flatness and uneven structure formation are therefore avoided or reduced. As strip steel, for example, a hot-rolled, optionally pickled strip steel can be used, which is cold-rolled to the desired thickness before the heat treatment, in particular the remuneration with the inventive method. A typical starting material is a strip steel with a width of 250 to 1250 millimeters and a thickness of 2 to 4 millimeters, the

For example, cold rolled to a thickness of 0.4 millimeters to 2.5 millimeters. The austenitizing of the strip steel occurs at a first temperature above the austenitizing temperature, which depends on the composition of the strip steel. Typically, this first temperature is in the range of 900 ° C or above. The dimensions of the austenitizing furnace and the

Transport speed of the steel strip are chosen so that the

Strip steel for several minutes, for example between 2 and 5 minutes, in the

Austenitizing furnace is located. After austenitizing, the steel strip becomes very fast, i. H. in seconds, quenched to a lower, second temperature. The second temperature and cooling rate are usually related to the desired microstructure. For example, if a strip steel having a bainitic microstructure is desired, the strip steel is quenched to a lower, second temperature, which in the

Bainitization of the strip material quenched. Of the

Bainitization area, d. H. the temperature at which a bainite structure can form in the strip steel is below the austenitizing temperature and above the martensite starting temperature of the strip steel material. Typically this is

Temperature in the range of 300 ° C to 450 ° C. Subsequently, the strip steel is heated to a temperature of several minutes, typically 2 to 3 minutes

Maintained bainitization so that the bainite can form in the band to the desired extent. Since the Bainitgefügebildung is exothermic, the atmosphere should be tempered in the holding furnace, so that a quasi-isothermal formation of bainite, d. H. a training of Bainitgefüges without significant temperature change in the holding furnace, can take place.

In the method according to the invention, it is particularly important, especially in the case of bainite formation, for the quenching of the strip steel to a temperature in the Bainitization is reliably ensured, ie that the adjusting after quenching temperature of the steel strip is neither too high nor too low, for example, already in the martensite area. Even with other cooling methods, it is usually important that a given temperature profile is maintained as accurately as possible. Therefore, the gaseous quenching agent is preferably carried in a temperature-controlled circuit. This ensures, on the one hand, that the least possible loss of gaseous quenching agent occurs, so that

For example, more expensive gases can be used. On the other hand, the temperature control ensures that the gas can be blown onto the continuous strip steel at an adjustable, constant temperature. For this purpose, a jet fan is preferably used with a plurality of nozzles, which preferably the strip steel both from the top and

Sprinkle bottom with gas. Preferably, the individual nozzles of the jet fan are adjustable in their orientation and / or in their flow. Optionally, the temperature of the steel strip after the quenching unit can be monitored with suitable sensors and the jet fan can be adjusted accordingly. More preferably, the flow rate of the gaseous quenching agent is varied across the width of the steel strip, i. ie transverse to the direction of tape travel. The flow rate of the quenching agent is preferably varied in such a way that the cooling capacity towards the strip edges is lower than in the middle of the strip, so that ultimately a temperature profile which is constant over the strip width is achieved. This ensures that a uniform, for example bainitic, microstructure with constant hardness or strength develops throughout the entire strip.

In addition to a suitable orientation and / or adjustment of the flow multiple nozzles, this can be achieved when using slot nozzles, for example, by a special shape of the individual slot nozzles, which are adapted to the edge effect by the resulting curved temperature distribution, especially in the first cooling, over the bandwidth. However, such a solution is technically complex and not very flexible, since the shape of the slot nozzles must be adapted to the respective tape dimensions. Preferably, the cooling is thus achieved transversely to the strip running direction by adjusting or even by controlling the flow width of the slot dies, for example by lateral closing or covering part of the openings of the nozzle. Especially in the first cooling area can thereby the temperature field over the

Bandwidth are evened out and so shrinkage stresses or plastic deformation avoided and the band flatness or uniform

Microstructure transformation thereby significantly improved. subsequent

Processing steps to improve the band flatness, such as

Straightening the tape can be minimized.

The process according to the invention can be used for a wide variety of hardenable and non-hardenable steels. However, the method is particularly preferably used for curing hardenable carbon steels, in particular for

Production of a carbon-containing steel strip with bainitic microstructure. Thus, according to the invention, for producing a steel strip having a bainitic microstructure, the lower, second temperature is selected such that it lies in the bainitization region of the steel strip, and after cooling, the steel strip is held at this second temperature for the quasi-isothermal formation of a bainite microstructure.

Particular preference is given to using a hydrogen-containing gas mixture as quenching agent, for example a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen content of the gas mixture used as quenching agent is preferably between 50 vol.% And 100 vol.%. Hydrogen is particularly preferred because of its high thermal conductivity, or more precisely because of the resulting high heat transfer coefficient as a coolant. Of the

Heat transfer coefficient from a surface to a the surface

flowing fluid is defined as the ratio of thermal conductivity and thickness of the thermal boundary layer of the fluid at the surface. For

Nitrogen / hydrogen gas mixtures gives a maximum

Heat transfer coefficient with a hydrogen content of about 85 vol.%. However, other gases with suitably high thermal conductivity may be used in addition to or as an alternative to hydrogen. Due to the leadership of the Quenching agent in the circuit, the loss of hydrogen in the cooling circuit is low and is optionally replaced continuously.

According to a preferred variant of the method according to the invention, the strip steel can be surface-decarburized in a moist, hydrogen-containing nitrogen atmosphere prior to austenitizing in an upstream furnace or even during austenitizing in the same furnace. The surface decarburization typically takes place in a comparable temperature range as the austenitization, so that both processes can be carried out in the same furnace. Typically, this is a gas mixture of hydrogen, nitrogen and

Water vapor used, for example, an atmosphere of 15 wt.%

Hydrogen gas and nitrogen with a water content, so that sets a dew point of about 39 ° C. When the strip steel in the surface decarburization furnace or the

Austenitizing oven is heated to a temperature of usually more than 900 ° C, crack on the steel strip typically still existing surface contaminants, such as oil residues from the previous processing steps. So that these residues do not burn on the strip surface, the moist, hydrogen-containing nitrogen atmosphere is preferably conducted in countercurrent to the transport direction of the ribbon jet, so that the

Pollutions can be removed and led out of the oven.

According to the inventive method, so for example after the formation of bainite, the strip steel can be cooled to room temperature and further processed, for example by dividing the steel strip by slitting into individual lines of smaller width, which then form, for example, the later cutting lines. For this purpose, after longitudinal cutting, at least one edge of the resulting lines, which later forms the cutting edge of the cutting lines, can harden.

However, the steel strip is particularly preferred immediately after the process according to the invention, for example after formation of the bainite structure, at a higher temperature, so for example at a temperature above the bainitization range, tempered to the desired final strength. Tempering can be carried out, for example, at a temperature between 300 ° C and 600 ° C, typically at a temperature of 400 ° C in a hydrogen-containing

Nitrogen atmosphere. The tempering is typically done in one

Period of a few minutes, for example in a period of one minute. The hydrogen content of the inert nitrogen atmosphere used for tempering may be between 1 and 10% by volume, preferably about 5% by volume. In the method according to the invention, a strip steel is preferably used which consists of a steel with a carbon content of between 0.2 and 1.25% by weight. Such steels include, for example, martensitic hardenable chromium steels or martensitic hardenable carbon steels. To form a bainitic structure, a carbonaceous steel strip having a carbon content of between 0.3 and 0.8% by weight is preferably used.

The invention also relates to a device for producing a steel strip, in particular for carrying out the method according to the invention, which comprises an austenitizing unit for heating a continuous strip steel to a first temperature above the austenitizing temperature and a

Quenching unit for quenching the continuous strip steel to a lower, second temperature, which is selected according to a desired steel structure, wherein the quenching unit has a supply means for supplying a tempered gaseous quenching agent to the continuous strip steel. The device according to the invention is characterized in that the supply device is set up so that a uniform cooling is achieved over the width of the strip steel.

According to a preferred embodiment, the supply device comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged above and below the continuous strip steel with which the tempered gaseous quenching agent can be blown onto the strip steel. According to a preferred embodiment, the nozzles are designed so that a varying over the width of the ribbon jet flow of the gaseous

Quenching agent is generated. This allows the cooling rate to be adjusted locally so that edge effects during cooling are compensated for and a temperature that is constant over the bandwidth is reached.

According to one embodiment, the nozzles may be formed as slit nozzles, wherein at least some of the nozzles are arranged obliquely to the continuous strip steel. Alternatively or additionally, as the slot nozzles

formed nozzles have openings with adjustable apertures, so that the width of the nozzles, from which the gaseous quenching agent on the

continuous strip steel hits, can be changed in the direction of tape travel.

Preferably, the apertures are adjusted so that initially only the central region of the incoming strip is cooled, while in the following slot nozzles increasingly the edges are also cooled.

For the control of deterrence, it is important, for example, for the formation of bainite, on the one hand the necessary cooling rate to avoid

Perlite excretion is achieved, on the other hand, the martensite start temperature is not exceeded. If the final temperature of the strip is used as the controlled variable there is a risk that the cooling rate will be changed at the same time and a critical value for a non-judicial quenching will be undercut.

By combining two or more independently adjustable gas streams, it is possible to meet the requirements for cooling rate and final temperature at the same time. In a first stage, the cooling rate can be maintained at a high level, with the final temperature in this stage being well above the level

Martensite start temperature is. In one or more further stages, the target temperature for the isothermal can be achieved by a milder or tempered gas stream

Conversion can be set exactly.

Therefore, two or more independently of one another are particularly preferred in the method according to the invention and in the device according to the invention adjustable gas flows combined, so that it is possible, on the one hand the

Requirements for the cooling rate and on the other hand the requirement for the

Constant maintenance of the final temperature, for example in the bainitization area, at the same time

The quenching unit preferably further comprises a cycle for the gaseous quenching agent and, optionally, a supply line via which a loss of gaseous quenching agent in the circulation from a storage container

can be compensated. The quenching unit also comprises suitable means, for example heat exchangers, for the temperature of the gaseous

Keep quenching agent at a desired value.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention for

Implementation of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a slot nozzle arrangement according to the prior art in which a noticeable edge effect occurs; FIG.

3 shows a variant of the slot nozzle arrangement according to the invention with partially slanted slot nozzles; and

Fig. 4 shows a further arrangement of the slot nozzles according to the invention, in which the

Have openings of the slot nozzles adjustable aperture.

In Fig. 1, a strip steel 10 is shown, which is guided over a gap 1 1 in a furnace 12 for austenitizing and optionally also for surface decarburization of the strip steel. The transport direction of the steel strip is indicated by the arrows 13 and 14. In the furnace 12, the strip steel 10 is heated to a temperature of approx.

Heated to 900 ° C. About a lock 15 of the steel strip 10 leaves the

Austenitizing furnace again. The austenitizing / surface decarburization furnace has a dry or humid atmosphere besides nitrogen

optionally also may contain hydrogen. The atmosphere is over in In the vicinity of the lock 15 located inlet port 16 is blown into the furnace and the furnace 12 via an outlet opening 17, which is located in the vicinity of

Entrance slit 1 1 is, leave again. Thereby, as indicated by the arrows 18, the atmosphere is conducted in countercurrent to the continuous belt 10, so that cracked contaminants can be discharged with the gas stream. The austenitizing furnace 12 is adjoined by a quenching unit 19, which is separated from the austenitizing furnace by the lock 15. In the

Quenching unit 19, a gaseous quenching agent (for example, a hydrogen / nitrogen gas mixture) in a tempered circuit 20 is performed. The circuit 20 comprises for this purpose a cooling device 21, in order to keep the circulating gas at a constant temperature, which ensures that in the

Quenching unit 19 entering strip steel 10 in seconds on a

Temperature in bainitization region of the strip steel 10 is cooled. For this purpose, the quenching unit 19 a plurality of nozzles 22, 23, which are arranged above or below the strip steel and blow the gaseous quenching agent on the surface of the continuous strip steel. Via a feed 24, fresh gas can be supplied to the circuit 20 in order to compensate losses in the circuit, in particular losses via the lock 15 and further via the outlet opening 17. The quenching unit 19 is followed by a holding unit 25, in which the

continuous strip steel is kept at a temperature in the bainitization region, for example at a temperature of 400 ° C., so that a bainite structure can be formed in the strip steel. The atmosphere in the holding furnace 25 is made

for example, from a hydrogen / nitrogen mixture which has a

Inlet opening 28 is introduced. The holding furnace 25 also has suitable tempering means (not shown in FIG. 1) which, because of the convection prevailing in the furnace (shown schematically by the arrows 26), ensure that the formation of the bainite structure can be quasi-isothermal. At the exit 27, the steel strip leaves the bainite structure according to the invention

Contraption. Following this, further devices can provide for the aftertreatment known per se, for example a tempering furnace and / or

Cutting devices for separating the strip steel into a plurality of strips. FIG. 2 shows a strip steel 10 in the region of a quenching unit 19 according to the prior art in plan view. The transport direction of the strip steel 10 (strip running direction) is again symbolized by an arrow 13. According to the prior art, a plurality of slot nozzles 22 are arranged transversely to the strip running direction for cooling the strip steel 10. From these slit nozzles 22, the cooling gas flows on the strip steel 10. The dashed lines 30a-30g symbolize the

Temperature curve of the strip steel 10 based on isotherms with 30a-30g decreasing temperature. The course of the isotherms shows the edge effect associated with the prior art, whereby lower temperatures at the edge are achieved much earlier at the edge than at the center of the steel strip due to the greater cooling of the edges of the steel strip.

To compensate for this edge effect, the invention proposes to vary the flow of the gaseous quenching agent across the width of the strip steel.

According to the variant proposed in FIG. 3, slot nozzles 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d are used with increasing width in the strip running direction 13, so that initially only the central area of the strip steel 10 is cooled and only at the end of the strip

Quenching unit 19 also the edge areas. In order to further homogenize the temperature distribution, can be arranged obliquely to the strip running direction 13

Slot nozzles 22f, 22g be provided.

According to the variant of the invention shown in Figure 4

Quenching are arranged as in the prior art arranged transversely to the strip running direction 13 slot nozzles 22, but according to the invention with

Apertures 31 are provided, which can be adjusted so that in turn only the central portion of the strip steel 10 is cooled again, while the edge regions are cooled only at the end of the quenching unit 19. Preferably, the panels, as symbolized by the arrows 32, are designed to be movable, so that the respective opening can be adapted to different steel types, strip dimensions or cooling profiles. In FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numerals 30a-30g again show isotherms of decreasing temperature. Due to the special arrangement or

Abbiendung the slot nozzles is achieved over the width of the steel strip 10 constant temperature during the cooling process.

Claims

claims

Method for producing a strip steel, wherein the strip steel is continuously subjected to the following treatment steps:

Austenitizing the strip steel at a first temperature above the austenitizing temperature;

Quenching the steel strip by means of a gaseous

Quenching agent to a lower, second temperature, which is selected according to a desired steel structure;

characterized in that

the gaseous quenching agent is passed onto the strip steel in such a way that a uniform cooling is achieved over the width of the strip steel.

Process according to claim 1, wherein the gaseous quenching agent is conducted in a temperature controlled circuit.

Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the flow rate of the gaseous quenching agent is varied across the width of the strip steel.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 3 for the production of a

Bainitic structure strip steel, wherein the lower second temperature is selected to be in the bainitization range of the strip steel, and the strip steel is maintained at this second temperature for quasi-isothermal formation of a bainite structure.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein as

Quenching agent used a hydrogen-containing gas mixture.

A method according to claim 5, wherein the hydrogen content of the as

Quenching agent used gas mixture between 50 vol.% And 100 vol.% Is.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the strip steel before or austenitizing in a moist, hydrogen-containing

Nitrogen atomic surface surface decarburized. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wet, hydrogen-containing

Nitrogen atomic sphere in countercurrent to the transport direction of the steel strip leads.

A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the strip steel after the structure formation at a higher temperature in a

hydrogen-containing nitrogen atmosphere to final strength.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the hydrogen content in the

Nitrogen atmosphere between 1 and 10 vol.%, Preferably about 5 vol.% Is.

1 1. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the steel strip is made of a steel having a carbon content of between 0.2 and 1.25% by weight.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 1, wherein the strip steel consists of a bainitic structure and a carbon content between 0.3 and 0.8 wt.%. 13. Apparatus for producing a steel strip, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 12, with a

An austenitizing unit for heating a continuous strip steel to a first temperature above the austenitizing temperature, a quenching unit for quenching the continuous strip steel to a lower, second temperature selected according to a desired steel texture, the quenching unit comprising a supply means for supplying a tempered gaseous quenching agent to the continuous one Includes steel strip, characterized in that

the supply device is set up so that a uniform cooling is achieved over the width of the strip steel. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the

Supply means comprises a plurality, above and below the continuous strip steel arranged nozzles.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the nozzles are designed so that a varying over the width of the steel strip

Flow of the gaseous quenching agent is generated.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the nozzles are designed as slit nozzles, wherein at least some of the nozzles are arranged obliquely to the continuous strip steel.

17. Device according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized

in that the nozzles are designed as slot nozzles whose openings have adjustable diaphragms.

18. Device according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the device further comprises a holding unit for holding the steel strip at a temperature in the bainitization region for quasi-isothermal

Training a Bainitgefüges has in the steel strip.