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  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D8/00—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment
  • C21D8/02—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment during manufacturing of plates or strips
  • C21D8/0205—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment during manufacturing of plates or strips of ferrous alloys
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
  • B21B1/00—Metal-rolling methods or mills for making semi-finished products of solid or profiled cross-section; Sequence of operations in milling trains; Layout of rolling-mill plant, e.g. grouping of stands; Succession of passes or of sectional pass alternations
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  • C21D8/00—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment
  • C21D8/02—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment during manufacturing of plates or strips
  • C21D8/0221—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment during manufacturing of plates or strips characterised by the working steps
  • C21D8/0226—Hot rolling
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  • C21D8/00—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment
  • C21D8/10—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment during manufacturing of tubular bodies
  • C21D8/105—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment during manufacturing of tubular bodies of ferrous alloys
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  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
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  • C22C—ALLOYS
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  • C22C38/001—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing N
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  • C22C—ALLOYS
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  • C22C38/002—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing In, Mg, or other elements not provided for in one single group C22C38/001 - C22C38/60
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  • C22C—ALLOYS
  • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
  • C22C38/005—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing rare earths, i.e. Sc, Y, Lanthanides
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  • C22C38/02—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing silicon
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  • C22C38/04—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing manganese
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  • C22C38/06—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing aluminium
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  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/22—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with molybdenum or tungsten
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  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/24—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with vanadium
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  • C22C38/26—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with niobium or tantalum
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  • C22C38/32—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with boron
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  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
  • C22C38/42—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with copper
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  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
  • C22C38/44—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with molybdenum or tungsten
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  • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
  • C22C38/46—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with vanadium
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
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  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
  • C22C38/48—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with niobium or tantalum
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  • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
  • C22C38/50—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with titanium or zirconium
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  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
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  • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
  • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
  • C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
  • C22C38/58—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
  • C21D2211/002—Bainite
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
  • C21D2211/003—Cementite
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
  • C21D2211/005—Ferrite
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
  • C21D2211/008—Martensite
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
  • C21D2211/009—Pearlite
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D8/00—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment
  • C21D8/02—Modifying the physical properties by deformation combined with, or followed by, heat treatment during manufacturing of plates or strips

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheets suitable for making welded steel pipes or tubes requiring high strength and high toughness, particularly, high-strength electric resistance welded steel pipes or tubes and high-strength spiral steel pipes or tubes, used as transport pipes (line pipes) or transport tubes for transporting crude oil, natural gas or the like, or as oil well pipes or tubes, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
• the disclosure relates to hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheets exhibiting improved deformation characteristics after being molded into pipes or tubes (after pipe or tube formation).
• hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheet refers to a hot rolled steel sheet having high strength of API5L-X65 to -X80 grade.
• Those high-strength steel pipes or tubes are required to have both high strength and excellent low temperature toughness to prevent fracture of line pipes.
• transformation toughening achieved by performing accelerated cooling after hot rolling
• strengthening achieved by, for example, solid solution strengthening by precipitates of alloying elements, such as Nb, Ti, and V precipitates
• toughness improvement achieved by, for example, microstructure refinement by controlled rolling and so on.
• JP 2001-207220 A discloses a method of manufacturing a hot rolled steel sheet for high-strength electric resistance welded steel pipes, the method including: preparing a billet containing C, Si, Mn, and N in appropriate amounts, Si and Mn in such amounts that Mn/Si is equal to 5 to 8, and Nb in an amount of 0.01% to 0.1%; then subjecting the billet to rough rolling, in which the rolling reduction ratio is adjusted for each rolling temperature, and to subsequent final rolling, which is started when the temperature of a surface layer part of the billet is raised, after being cooled to a temperature of Ar1 or lower, by recuperation or forced heating to a temperature in the range of (Ac3 ⁇ 40° C.) to (Ac3+40° C.), and in which a finisher delivery temperature is controlled to be equal to or higher than Ac3 with a total rolling reduction ratio of 60% or more at a temperature of 950° C.
• JP 2001-207220 A discloses a technical solution that may produce a high-strength electric resistance welded steel pipe or tube having excellent low-temperature toughness by refining microstructures in a surface layer of the steel sheet without adding expensive alloying elements or applying heat treatment to the entire steel pipe or tube.
• the technique disclosed in JP 2001-207220 A falls short in its ability to cool a steel plate which has a large sheet thickness, and thus cannot ensure a desired cooling rate. Accordingly, a further improvement in its cooling ability is still needed.
• JP 2006-144037 A discloses a high-strength steel pipe for pipelines exhibiting excellent post-aging deformation characteristics obtained by welding steel sheets, each containing C: 0.02% to 0.09%, Si: 0.001% to 0.8%, Mn: 0.5% to 2.5%, Ti: 0.005% to 0.03%, Nb: 0.005% to 0.3%, Al: 0.001% to 0.1%, N: 0.001% to 0.008%, and two or more of Ni: 0.1% to 1.0%, Cu: 0.1% to 1.0%, and Mo: 0.05% to 0.6% provided that the condition of (Ni+Cu) ⁇ Mo>0.5 is satisfied, a mixed structure of ferrite having an area ratio of 50% or less and an average grain size of 15 ⁇ m or less and the balance being martensite and/or bainite.
• JP 2006-144037 A that steel pipe is a high-strength steel pipe of strength grade of X-70 to X-100 exhibiting a uniform elongation of 5% or more after being heated at 200° C. to 300° C. and has excellent post-aging deformation characteristics.
• the technique disclosed in JP 2006-144037 A has a problem with weldability, however, because it is necessary to contain relatively large amounts of alloying elements such as Ni, which is expensive, and Cu, which may cause liquid phase embrittlement during hot rolling.
• the reel barge method has been widely used to lay submarine line pipes.
• the reel barge method involves: performing, in advance on shore, circumferential welding, testing, painting, and other processes necessary to make an elongated pipe; reeling the pipe onto an off-shore barge; and laying the pipe on a target ocean floor while reeling it in the water behind the barge.
• tension and compression stresses are exerted on some parts of the pipe when the pipe is bent back and forth for reeling and laying on the ocean floor. This causes local buckling of the pipe, at which the fracture of the pipe may begin.
• JP H03-211255 A discloses an electric resistance welded steel pipe or tube having an yield ratio of 85% or less, a reduced area softened by welding, and excellent properties for reel barge laying obtained by having a controlled composition containing C: 0.03% to 0.20%, Si: 0.05% to 0.50%, Mn: 0.50% to 1.5%, Al: 0.005% to 0.060%, Nb+V+Ti equal to 0.04% or less, a carbon equivalent Ceq of 0.20% to 0.35%, and a weld cracking parameter Pcm of 0.25% or less. According to JP H03-211255 A, it is possible to prevent local buckling from occurring in the pipe when pipeline laying is conducted using the reel barge method.
• JP 2006-122932 A discloses a method of manufacturing an electric resistance welded steel pipe or tube, the method including: applying an average strain of 15% or less in the sheet thickness direction to a steel strip before being molded into pipe or tube molding, the steel strip having a composition containing C: 0.1% or less and Mn: 2.3% or less, to thereby prevent local buckling during pipe laying.
• JP H03-211255 A it is necessary to increase the content of C to reliably ensure high strength of X65 grade and above, with the result that a required toughness cannot be obtained.
• JP 2006-122932 A needs to apply strain to the steel strip, which necessitates a large facility to introduce strain.
• an anti-corrosion paint is usually applied to the surfaces of a line pipe.
• the line pipe is subjected to paint baking treatment in which the line pipe is heated at temperatures of 200° C. to 300° C.
• the steel pipes or tubes to which strain has been introduced during the pipe or tube formation may exhibit such deformation characteristics that cause the steel pipes or tubes to be hardened by strain aging, to show an increased yield strength, and to show a yield point elongation.
• Steel pipes or tubes having such deformation characteristics will suffer local buckling upon application of bending deformation, thereby casing fracture of the pipes or tubes.
• the phrase “excellent deformation characteristics after pipe or tube formation” means that the steel sheet has such deformation characteristics that
• the steel sheet exhibits, at its surface layer part, a uniform elongation of 10% or more in a tensile test in accordance with the JIS Z 2241 standard using a JIS No. 5 test piece (GL: 50 mm),
• the steel sheet has so low paint bake hardenability that the steel sheet has a degree of paint bake hardening AYS of 40 MPa or less after being applied with a tensile strain of 2% as prestrain and being subsequently heated at 250° C. for 60 min by paint bake hardening, and
• the steel sheet may prevent the resulting pipe or tube from exhibiting a reduced yield elongation after being subjected to pipe or tube formation and paint baking treatment so that the pipe or tube suffers less local buckling when deformed by bending.
• a steel sheet may be adapted to contain Cr, Nb, Ti, and V as essential elements with the total content of Nb, Ti, and V adjusted in a suitable range; to thereby
• a hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheet comprising a chemical composition containing, by mass %,
• the chemical composition further containing Nb: 0.01% to 0.08%, V: 0.001% to 0.12%, and Ti: 0.005% to 0.04%, the contents of Nb, V, and Ti being adjusted so as to satisfy Formula (1) below, the chemical composition further containing the balance including Fe and incidental impurities,
• the steel sheet has a surface layer having a microstructure containing bainite as a main phase, martensite as a second phase in a volume fraction of 0.5% to 4%, and at least one of ferrite phase, pearlite, cementite as a third phase in a total volume fraction of 10% or less:
• Nb, V, and Ti each represent the content (mass %) of niobium, vanadium, and titanium in steel, respectively.
• a method of manufacturing a hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheet comprising: heating a steel material; then subjecting the steel material to hot rolling to obtain a hot rolled sheet; subjecting, immediately after the hot rolling, the hot rolled sheet to accelerated cooling; and then coiling the sheet at a coiling temperature,
• the steel material comprising a chemical composition containing, by mass %,
• the chemical composition further containing Nb: 0.01% to 0.08%, V: 0.001% to 0.12%, and Ti: 0.005% to 0.04%, the contents of Nb, V, and Ti being adjusted so as to satisfy Formula (1) below, the chemical composition further containing the balance including Fe and incidental impurities,
• the heating of the steel material is performed to heat the steel material to temperatures in a range of 1100° C. to 1250° C.
• a cumulative rolling reduction ratio in a temperature range of 930° C. or lower is set to be 50% or more and a finisher delivery temperature is set to be 760° C. or higher during finish rolling in the hot rolling
• the accelerated cooling is adapted to start cooling, immediately after completion of the finish rolling, at an average cooling rate CR of 7° C./s to 50° C./s and to stop the cooling at a cooling stop temperature in a temperature range of 550° C. or higher to a temperature SCT+30° C., the SCT being defined by Formula (2) below,
• the sheet in which the sheet is allowed to cool or gradually cooled during a period of time after the accelerated cooling is stopped and before the coiling is started, so that the sheet is retained at temperatures in a temperature range of (SCT ⁇ 20° C.) to (SCT+30° C.) for 10 seconds to 60 seconds, and
• the coiling temperature is set in a range of 430° C. or higher to (SCT ⁇ 50° C.)
• Nb, V, and Ti each represent the content (mass %) of niobium, vanadium, and titanium in steel, respectively,
• C, Mn, Si, Mo, Cu, and Ni each represent the content (mass %) of carbon, manganese, silicon, molybdenum, copper, and nickel in steel, and
• CR is an average cooling rate (° C./s) during the accelerated cooling.
• Our hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheets are hot rolled steel sheets from which such steel pipes or tubes may be manufactured that have high strength of API5L-X65 to -X80 grade, that are suitable for making line pipes and oil well pipes or tubes, and that exhibit excellent deformation characteristics after being molded into pipes or tubes (after pipe or tube formation).
• Mass percentage (mass %) will be simply noted as % hereinafter, unless otherwise specified herein.
• Carbon (C) is an element that increases the strength of steel. C needs to be contained by 0.04% or more in steel to ensure a desired strength thereof. However, a C content exceeding 0.08% reduces the toughness of the base material and the toughness of a heat-affected zone. Accordingly, the content of C is 0.04% to 0.08%, and preferably 0.05% to 0.07%.
• Silicon (Si) is an element that acts as a deoxidizer. Such an effect is observed when the content of Si is 0.01% or more. In addition, Si forms an oxide containing Si during electric resistance welding, which leads to a degradation in the quality of welded parts and a reduction in the toughness of a heat-affected zone. From this perspective, the content of Si is desirably minimized, although up to 0.50% of Si is acceptable. Therefore, the content of Si is 0.50% or less, and preferably 0.40% or less.
• Manganese (Mn) is an element that improves the quench hardenability of the steel sheet, which contributes to an increase in the strength of the steel sheet.
• Mn forms MnS to fix S, thereby preventing the grain boundary segregation of S and suppressing the cracking of a slab.
• the content of Mn needs to be at least 0.8% to attain such an effect.
• an excessive Mn content over 2.2% tends to incur segregation during coagulation, with the result that Mn-concentrated portions remain in the steel sheet and separation occurs more frequently. Accordingly, the content of Mn is 0.8% to 2.2%, and preferably 0.9% to 2.1%.
• Phosphorus (P) is an element that acts to increase the strength of steel, but shows a marked tendency to segregate and reduces the toughness of steel.
• the content of P is desirably minimized, although up to 0.02% of P is acceptable. Therefore, the content of P is 0.02% or less, and preferably 0.016% or less.
• S Sulfur
• S is an element that exists primarily as an inclusion (a sulfide) in steel and has an adverse effect on the ductility and toughness of steel.
• the content of S is desirably minimized, although up to 0.006% of S is acceptable. Therefore, the content of S is 0.006% or less, and preferably 0.004% or less.
• Aluminum (Al) is an element that acts as a deoxidizer. To attain this effect, the content of Al is desirably 0.001% or more. However, an Al content exceeding 0.1% greatly compromises the cleanliness of welded portions during electric resistance welding. Therefore, the content of Al is 0.1% or less.
• N Nitrogen
• N is an element incidentally contained in steel. However, if contained excessively in steel, N causes frequent cracking of a slab during casting. In addition, solute N induces aging and causes an increase in yield strength (paint bake hardening) during paint baking treatment. Accordingly, the content of N is desirably minimized. Therefore, the content of N is 0.008% or less,
• Chromium (Cr) is an element that acts to improve the quench hardenability of the steel sheet, to increase the strength thereof, and to suppress the occurrence of yield point elongation after paint bake treatment. To attain this effect, the content of Cr needs to be at least 0.05%. However, an excessive Cr content over 0.8% unnecessarily increases the strength of the steel sheet, leading to a reduction in ductility and toughness. Accordingly, the content of Cr is 0.05% to 0.8%, and preferably 0.3% to 0.5%.
• Niobium is an element that acts to inhibit the grain boundary migration of austenite and suppress the coarsening and recrystallization of austenite grains. Nb also forms fine precipitates in the form of carbonitrides, to thereby increase the strength of the hot rolled steel sheet even at a small content of Nb, without compromising the weldability. Nb also fixes C and N, thereby reducing the degree of hardening during paint bake treatment. To attain this effect, the content of Nb needs to be at least 0.01%. However, an excessive Nb content over 0.08% unnecessarily increases the strength of the steel sheet, leading to a reduction in the ductility and toughness. Accordingly, the content of Nb is 0.01% to 0.08%, and preferably 0.02% to 0.07%.
• V 0.001% to 0.12%
• Vanadium (V) is an element that forms fine precipitates in the form of carbonitrides, to thereby increase the strength of the steel sheet. V also fixes C and N, thereby suppressing the occurrence of yield point elongation after paint bake treatment and improving deformation characteristics after pipe or tube formation To attain this effect, the content of V needs to be at least 0.001%. However, an excessive V content over 0.12% unnecessarily increases the strength of the steel sheet, leading to a reduction in the ductility and toughness. Accordingly, the content of V is 0.001% to 0.12%, and preferably 0.001% to 0.08%.
• Titanium (Ti) is an element that forms fine precipitates in the form of carbonitrides, to thereby increase the strength of the steel sheet. Ti also fixes C and N, thereby suppressing the occurrence of yield point elongation after pain bake treatment and improving deformation characteristics after pipe or tube formation.
• the content of Ti needs to be at least 0.005% to attain such an effect. However, a Ti content exceeding 0.04% compromises the weldability. Accordingly, the content of Ti is 0.005% to 0.04%.
• composition also contains Nb, V, and Ti in amounts adjusted to fall within the aforementioned ranges and satisfy Formula (1) below:
• Nb, V, and Ti each represent the content (mass %) of niobium, vanadium, and titanium, respectively.
• Nb, V, and Ti are adjusted to satisfy Formula (1).
• the steel sheet contains the aforementioned components as the basic components and may optionally and selectively contain, in addition thereto, at least one of Mo: 0.3% or less, Cu: 0.5% or less, Ni: 0.5% or less, and B: 0.001% or less, and/or at least one of Zr: 0.04% or less and Ta: 0.07% or less, and/or at least one of Ca: 0.005% or less and REM: 0.005% or less.
• Molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and boron (B) are elements each increasing the strength of the steel sheet.
• the steel sheet may optionally and selectively contain at least one of Mo, Cu, Ni, and B.
• Mo improves the quench hardenability of the steel sheet, to thereby increase the strength thereof. Mo also forms fine precipitates in the form of carbonitrides, to thereby contribute to an increase in the strength of the steel sheet. In addition, Mo suppresses the occurrence of yield point elongation after paint bake treatment. To attain this effect, the content of Mo is desirably 0.05% or more. However, a Mo content exceeding 0.3% compromises the weldability. Accordingly, in a case where the steel sheet contains Mo, the content of Mo is preferably 0.3% or less.
• Cu forms a solute or a precipitate to increase the strength of the steel sheet.
• the content of Cu is desirably 0.05% or more.
• a Cu content exceeding 0.5% may degrade the surface quality of the steel sheet. Accordingly, in a case where the steel sheet contains Cu, the content of Cu is preferably 0.5% or less.
• Ni forms a solute to increase the strength of the steel sheet and contributes to an increase in the toughness of the steel sheet.
• the content of Ni is desirably 0.05% or more.
• a Ni content exceeding 0.5% leads to increased manufacturing costs. Therefore, in a case where the steel sheet contains Ni, the content of Ni is preferably 0.5% or less.
• B markedly improves, even at a small content thereof, the quench hardenability of the steel sheet and contributes to an increase in the strength of the steel sheet.
• This effect becomes apparent when the content of B is 0.0003% or more.
• containing B by more than 0.001% saturates this effect. Therefore, in a case where the steel sheet contains B, the content of B is preferably 0.001% or less.
• Zirconium (Zr) and tantalum (Ta) are elements each forming fine precipitates in the form of carbonitrides to thereby act to increase the strength of the steel sheet, and may be optionally and selectively contained in the steel sheet.
• Zr zirconium
• Ta tantalum
• a Zr content exceeding 0.04% and a Ta content exceeding 0.07% compromise the weldability. Accordingly, in a case where the steel sheet contains Zr and Ta, it is preferred to limit the content of Zr to 0.04% or less and the content of Ta to 0.07% or less.
• Ca and REM are elements each contributing to the morphological control for spheroidizing elongated coarse sulfides, and may be optionally and selectively contained in the steel sheet.
• an excessive Ca content over 0.005% and an excessive REM content over 0.005% compromise the cleanliness of the steel sheet. Accordingly, if applicable, the content of Ca and/or REM is preferably 0.005% or less.
• the hot rolled high tensile strength steel sheet has the aforementioned composition and a surface layer containing bainite as a main phase, martensite as a second phase in a volume fraction of 0.5% to 4%, and at lease one of ferrite, pearlite, and cementite as a third phase in a total volume fraction of 10% or less.
• main phase refers to a phase having a volume fraction of 50% or more, and preferably 80% or more.
• surface layer refers herein to a region extending to a depth of 2 mm in the sheet thickness direction below the surface of the steel sheet.
• the microstructure of the surface layer of the steel sheet may be arranged to contain bainite as the main phase and martensite as the second phase in a volume fraction of 0.5% to 4%, with the result that the steel sheet has so excellent deformation characteristics as to offer a uniform elongation of preferably 10% or more.
• the degree of hardening may be still small even when the steel sheet undergoes paint bake treatment after being molded into a pipe or tube and furthermore, a yield point elongation, which would otherwise occur subsequent to the paint bake treatment, may be suppressed, and no buckling occurs even when the pipe or tube undergoes bending.
• the resulting steel pipe or tube have excellent bending workability.
• the term “bainite” is intended herein to include bainite and bainitic ferrite.
• the martensite contained as the second phase may decrease the yield ratio, improve the deformation characteristics after pipe or tube formation, lower the degree of hardening during paint bake treatment, and suppress the occurrence of yield point elongation after pipe or tube formation.
• the third phase other than the bainite and the martensite at lease one of ferrite phase, pearlite, and cementite may be contained. It is more preferred that these phases have smaller volume fractions because these phases impair uniform elongation, although a total volume fraction of up to 10% is acceptable.
• the steel sheet has a middle portion in the sheet thickness direction that has a microstructure preferably containing bainite as a main phase, martensite as a second phase in a volume fraction of 0.5% to 4%, and at least one of ferrite phase, pearlite, and cementite as a third phase in a total volume fraction of 20% or less.
• the microstructure of the middle portion in the sheet thickness direction of the steel sheet which contains bainite as the main phase and martensite as the second phase in a volume fraction of 0.5% to 4%, may provide the steel sheet with both high strength and high toughness. Specifically, the microstructure thus obtained allows the steel sheet to achieve a uniform elongation of 10% or more, while maintaining high strength.
• the term “middle portion in the sheet thickness direction” refers to a portion other than the surface layer.
• the third phase other than the bainite and the martensite at lease one of ferrite phase, pearlite, and cementite may be contained. It is more preferred that these phases have smaller volume fractions because these phases reduce the strength and toughness of the steel sheet, and it is preferred to limit the total volume fraction of these phases to 20% or less.
• a steel material having the aforementioned composition is used as a starting material.
• molten steel may be prepared by any commonly used, well-known steelmaking process, such as by using a converter.
• the molten steel prepared by steelmaking may be cast into a steel material, such as a slab, by applying any commonly used, well-known casting method, such as continuous casting.
• the resulting steel material is then reheated.
• the reheating the steel material is performed to heat the steel material to temperatures of 1100° C. to 1250° C.
• a reheating temperature below 1100° C. reduces the amount of increase in strength resulting from the formation of solute Nb and of precipitates after the rolling process, which fails to ensure as high strength as desired for the steel sheet.
• a reheating temperature above 1250° C. coarsens crystal grains, reduces the low temperature toughness, produces more scales, gives a poor surface texture, and deteriorates the yield. Therefore, it is preferred that the heating temperature of the steel material is 1100° C. to 1250° C.
• the steel material may be subjected to hot rolling directly without reheating if it is hot enough to be kept at temperatures in the aforementioned range until the hot rolling, or may be retained in a heating oven for a short period of time before hot rolling.
• the heated steel material is then subjected to hot rolling including rough rolling and finish rolling.
• the rough rolling is not particularly limited, as long as capable of shaping the steel material into a sheet bar having a predetermined dimension and shape.
• the finish rolling is adapted to have a cumulative rolling reduction ratio of 50% or more in a temperature range of 930° C. or lower, and a finisher delivery temperature of 760° C. or higher.
• the cumulative rolling reduction ratio below 50% in the temperature range of 930° C. or lower can neither achieve refinement of crystal grains, nor ensure as high toughness as desired for the steel material.
• the cumulative rolling reduction ratio in this temperature range is preferably 85% or less.
• the cumulative rolling reduction ratio in the non-recrystallization temperature range is 50% or more and, preferably, 85% or less.
• a finisher delivery temperature below 760° C. promotes austenite to ferrite transformation, particularly in the surface layer, with the result that the surface layer cannot have a microstructure containing a desired bainite phase as its main phase, and that the resulting steel sheet cannot have as high toughness as desired.
• the finisher delivery temperature is preferably 870° C. or lower.
• a finisher delivery temperature above 870° C. cannot achieve refinement of the microstructure and causes a reduction in the toughness of the resulting steel sheet. Therefore, the finisher delivery temperature is limited to 760° C. or higher and, preferably, 870° C. or lower.
• Accelerated cooling is started immediately, preferably within 15 seconds and more preferably within 10 seconds, after completion of the finish rolling.
• the accelerated cooling cools the steel sheet to a cooling stop temperature at an average cooling rate of 7° C./s to 50° C./s and stops the cooling process when the cooling stop temperature is reached. This may suppress generation of ferrite phase and pearlite and prevent coarsening of crystal grains. If the average cooling rate is below 7° C./s, ferrite phase forms excessively, which makes it difficult to ensure as high strength and toughness as desired. The excessive generation of ferrite, which is generated at high temperature, makes it difficult to allow for formation of fine bainite phase. On the other hand, if the average cooling rate is above 50° C./s, martensite phase forms more easily, which makes it difficult to obtain a microstructure containing bainite phase as its main phase. Therefore, the average cooling rate for the accelerated cooling is 7° C./s to 50° C./s. Note that the average cooling rate is preferably 20° C./s or lower.
• the cooling stop temperature for the accelerated cooling is 550° C. or higher to (SCT+30° C.).
• the SCT is:
• C, Mn, Si, Mo, Cu, and Ni each represent the content (mass %) of carbon, manganese, silicon, molybdenum, copper, and nickel in steel, respectively, and CR is an average cooling rate (° C./s) during the accelerated cooling,
• the steel sheet is allowed to cool or gradually cooled during a period of time after the accelerated cooling is stopped and before coiling is started so that the steel sheet is retained at temperatures in a temperature range of (SCT ⁇ 20° C.) to (SCT+30° C.) for 10 seconds to 60 seconds.
• This causes heat recuperation in the surface of the steel sheet, provides more uniform temperature distributions in the sheet thickness direction, suppresses generation of ferrite, and facilitates generation of bainite phase containing martensite. If retained at temperatures in the aforementioned temperature range for less than 10 seconds, the steel sheet fails to gain sufficient heat recuperation, resulting in insufficient formation of martensite in the surface layer.
• the steel sheet sees the growth of bainite grains, which leads to a reduction in its toughness and even in its productivity. Accordingly, the steel sheet is allowed to cool or gradually cooled during a period of time after the accelerated cooling is stopped and before coiling is started, so that it is retained at temperatures of (SCT ⁇ 20° C.) to (SCT+30° C.) for 10 seconds to 60 seconds.
• the temperature for coiling is 430° C. or higher to (SCT ⁇ 50° C.).
• a coiling temperature below 430° C. inhibits diffusion of carbon, thereby preventing martensite phase from forming in bainite corresponding to the main phase.
• a coiling temperature above (SCT ⁇ 50° C.) leads to generation of pearlite, which makes it impossible to obtain a desired microstructure.
• Molten steel samples having the compositions shown in Table 1 were prepared by steelmaking using a converter and subjected to continuous casting to produce slabs (of 220 mm thick). These slabs were heated to 1200° C., subjected to hot rolling including rough rolling and finish rolling under the conditions shown in Table 2, subjected to, upon completion of the finish rolling, accelerated cooling and allowed to cool under the cooling conditions shown in Table 2, rolled into coils under the conditions shown in Table 2, and then allowed to cool to obtain hot rolled steel sheets (hot rolled steel strips) having a sheet thickness of 12 mm to 16 mm.
• Test pieces were collected from the hot rolled steel sheets (hot rolled steel strips) thus obtained and subjected to microstructure observation, tensile tests, impact tests, and tensile tests after paint bake treatment, so as to assess their microstructures, tensile properties, toughness, and tensile properties after paint bake treatment. The test pieces were assessed as stated below.
• Test pieces were collected from the obtained hot rolled steel sheets for microstructure observation. Each test piece was polished and etched at its cross section in the rolling direction and observed and imaged under a microscope (at magnification ⁇ 1000) or a scanning electron microscope (at magnification ⁇ 1000), in five or more fields of view at a surface layer (at a depth of 1 mm below the surface of the steel sheet) and at a middle position in the sheet thickness direction, respectively. The resulting micrographs were used to analyze the type of microstructure and measure the microstructure proportion using an image analyzer. The obtained results are shown in Table 3.
• JIS No. 5 tensile test pieces (GL: 50 mm) were collected, from a surface layer (region extending to a depth of 2 mm in the sheet thickness direction below the surface) of, and from a middle position in the sheet thickness direction of each of the obtained hot rolled steel sheets such that the tensile direction is parallel to the rolling direction. Then, tensile tests were conducted on the test pieces thus obtained in accordance with the JIS Z 2241 standard to analyze their tensile properties (including yield strength, tensile strength, total elongation, and uniform elongation).
• each tensile test piece from a surface layer (region extending to a depth of 2 mm in the sheet thickness direction below the surface) of each of the hot rolled steel sheets was collected in such a way that a middle position in its thickness direction is set at a depth of 1 mm below the surface of the steel sheet.
• the thickness of each tensile test piece was set to 1.6 mm.
• each tensile test piece from a middle position in the sheet thickness direction of each of the hot rolled steel sheets was prepared by removing by cutting the surface layer (region extending to a depth of 2 mm in the sheet thickness direction) of the steel sheet such that a middle position in its thickness direction coincides with a middle position in the sheet thickness direction.
• Table 4 The obtained results are shown in Table 4.
• V-notched test piece (of 10 mm wide) was collected from a middle portion in the sheet thickness direction of each of the obtained hot rolled steel sheets such that its longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the rolling direction. Then, the Charpy impact tests were conducted on the resulting test pieces in accordance with the JIS Z 2242 standard to measure their fracture appearance transition temperature vTrs (° C.) and to assess their toughness. The obtained results are shown in Table 4.
• JIS No. 5 tensile test pieces (GL: 50 mm) were collected, from a surface layer (region extending to a depth of 2 mm in the sheet thickness direction below the surface) of, and from a middle position in the sheet thickness direction of each of the obtained hot rolled steel sheets such that the tensile direction is parallel to the rolling direction. Then, each of the tensile test pieces was applied with 2% prestrain at room temperature and then subjected to the heat treatment comparable to the paint bake treatment (by which the test piece is heated at 250° C. for 60 min).
• the comparative examples showed any of the following properties: insufficient strength; lower toughness; inferior elongation properties; and the occurrence of yield point elongation, and thus failed to ensure desired properties for high strength hot rolled steel sheets for line pipes.
• our hot rolled steel sheets were subjected to cold forming with rollers to obtain electric resistance welded steel pipes or tubes, which in turn were subjected to diameter-reducing rolling to produce steel pipes or tubes having an outer diameter of 406 mm ⁇ .
• a tensile strain pipe or tube formation-induced strain
• the obtained electric resistance welded steel pipes or tubes were further heated at 250° C. for 60 minutes by heat treatment. Then, arc-shaped tensile test pieces were collected from the resulting steel pipes or tubes such that the tensile direction coincides with the axial direction of the pipes or tubes.
• tensile tests were conducted on the tensile test pieces in accordance with the API 5L standard, the results of which showed that the tensile test pieces were electric resistance welded steel pipes or tubes having so excellent deformation characteristics that causes no yield point elongation and even exhibits a uniform elongation of 4% or more. These steel pipes or tubes are less susceptible to buckling even after being subjected to bending.

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