US20190136358A1 - Method for producing hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire - Google Patents

Method for producing hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire Download PDF

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Publication number
US20190136358A1
US20190136358A1 US16/083,620 US201716083620A US2019136358A1 US 20190136358 A1 US20190136358 A1 US 20190136358A1 US 201716083620 A US201716083620 A US 201716083620A US 2019136358 A1 US2019136358 A1 US 2019136358A1
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Prior art keywords
steel wire
aluminum
hot
molten aluminum
tubular body
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US16/083,620
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English (en)
Inventor
Tadaaki Miono
Shinichi Kamoshida
Yasunori Hattori
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Nippon Steel Nisshin Co Ltd
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Nisshin Steel Co Ltd
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Assigned to NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD. reassignment NISSHIN STEEL CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HATTORI, YASUNORI, KAMOSHIDA, SHINICHI, MIONO, TADAAKI
Publication of US20190136358A1 publication Critical patent/US20190136358A1/en
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C2/00—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
    • C23C2/34—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the material to be treated
    • C23C2/36—Elongated material
    • C23C2/38—Wires; Tubes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C2/00—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C2/00—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
    • C23C2/003—Apparatus
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C2/00—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
    • C23C2/003—Apparatus
    • C23C2/0038—Apparatus characterised by the pre-treatment chambers located immediately upstream of the bath or occurring locally before the dipping process
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C2/00—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
    • C23C2/04—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor characterised by the coating material
    • C23C2/12—Aluminium or alloys based thereon
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C2/00—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
    • C23C2/50—Controlling or regulating the coating processes
    • C23C2/52—Controlling or regulating the coating processes with means for measuring or sensing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire. More particularly, the present invention relate to a method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire which can be suitably used in, for example, a wire harness of an automobile, and the like, and a controller for introducing a steel wire to hot-dip aluminum, which can be suitably used in the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire.
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire means a steel wire which has been plated with aluminum by dipping a steel wire in molten aluminum, and then continuously drawing up the steel wire from the molten aluminum.
  • the molten aluminum means a plating liquid of molten aluminum.
  • a copper wire has been hitherto used as an electric wire which is used in a wire harness of an automobile, and the like.
  • As an electric wire having a light weight without impairing electric conductivity in place of the copper wire it has been desired in recent years to develop a composite electric wire made of a strand of an aluminum wire having a weight lighter than the copper wire and a metal wire having strength higher than the aluminum wire.
  • As a metal wire having strength higher than the aluminum wire a hot-dip Al-coated steel wire obtained by plating a steel wire with hot-dip aluminum has been proposed (for example, see claim 1 and paragraph [0004] of Patent Literature 1).
  • the above-mentioned hot-dip Al-coated steel wire has been produced by dipping a steel wire or a steel wire having a zinc plated layer or a nickel plated layer on its surface as a starting wire in molten aluminum, and then continuously drawing up the steel wire from the molten aluminum to the air (see, for example, paragraph of Patent Literature 1).
  • Patent Literature 1 Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2014-185355
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire having a plating film over the whole surface even when a steel wire is dipped in molten aluminum at a high speed of 200 m/min or more, and a controller for introducing a steel wire to hot-dip aluminum, which can be suitably used in the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire.
  • the present invention relates to:
  • a heating device for heating a steel wire prior to dipping of the steel wire in molten aluminum
  • a liquid surface-controlling device including a tubular body having a through hole for introducing the steel wire into the tubular body, wherein the tubular body has a dipping region for dipping the tubular body in the molten aluminum from one end part of the tubular body along a longitudinal direction of the tubular body;
  • the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire and the liquid surface-controlling device of the present invention there can be exhibited excellent effects such that a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire having a plating film over the whole surface can be efficiently produced even when a steel wire is dipped in molten aluminum at a high speed of 200 m/min or more.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a heating device used in a controller for introducing a steel wire to hot-dip aluminum according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a liquid surface-controlling device used in a controller for introducing a steel wire to hot-dip aluminum according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a boundary portion between a steel wire and a surface of molten aluminum when the steel wire is drawn up from the molten aluminum in the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing one embodiment of a method for determining an average thickness of a plating film of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire obtained in each of working examples and comparative examples.
  • FIG. 6 is a photograph substituted for a drawing, showing appearance of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire obtained in Example 2, Example 7 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2.
  • the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire according to the present invention includes a process for dipping a steel wire in molten aluminum, and then continuously drawing up the steel wire from the molten aluminum, to produce a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire.
  • the method includes one of characteristics in using a heating device for heating a steel wire prior to dipping of the steel wire in molten aluminum, and a liquid surface-controlling device including a tubular body having a through hole for introducing the steel wire into the tubular body, wherein the tubular body has a dipping region for dipping the tubular body in the molten aluminum from one end part of the tubular body along a longitudinal direction of the tubular body; introducing the steel wire into the heating device and the liquid surface-controlling device sequentially under a condition that the dipping region of the liquid surface-controlling device is dipped in the molten aluminum; and dipping the steel wire in the molten aluminum, as mentioned above.
  • a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire having a plating film over the whole surface can be efficiently produced even when a steel wire is dipped in molten aluminum at a high speed of 200 m/min or more since the above-mentioned processes are employed in the method.
  • the steel wire can be introduced into the molten aluminum under the condition that the temperature of the steel wire is increased since the steel wire is introduced into the heating device included in the steel wire-introducing device of the present invention in advance of introduction of the steel wire into the liquid surface-controlling device. Accordingly, reactivity of the steel wire with the molten aluminum is improved, and therefore generation of an area where a plating film is not formed on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire can be suppressed even when a line speed of the steel wire is increased.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing one embodiment of the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire according to the present invention.
  • a steel wire 2 is dipped in molten aluminum 1 , and then the steel wire 2 is continuously drawn up from the molten aluminum 1 , to produce a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • steel used in the steel wire 2 include, for example, stainless steel, carbon steel and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • the stainless steel is an alloy steel containing 10% by mass or more of chromium (Cr).
  • Examples of the stainless steel include, for example, austenitic steel materials, ferritic steel materials and martensitic steel materials defined in JIS G4309, and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • the stainless steel include stainless steel in which an austenitic phase is generally considered to be metastable, such as SUS301 and SUS304; stable austenitic stainless steel such as SUS305, SUS310 and SUS316; ferritic stainless steel such as SUS405, SUS410L, SUS429, SUS430, SUS434, SUS436, SUS444 and SUS447; martensitic stainless steel such as SUS403, SUS410, SUS416, SUS420, SUS431 and SUS440; chromium-nickel-manganese-based stainless steel classified into SUS200 series, and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • the carbon steel contains 0.02% by mass or more of carbon (C).
  • C carbon
  • Examples of the carbon steel include, for example, high carbon steel wire rods defined in JIS G3506, low carbon steel wire rods defined in JIS G3505, and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • Specific examples of the carbon steel include high carbon steel, low carbon steel and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • the stainless steel and the carbon steel are preferred, and the stainless steel is more preferred, from the viewpoint of increase in tensile strength of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • the diameter of the steel wire 2 is not particularly limited. It is preferred that the diameter of the steel wire 2 is appropriately controlled in accordance with uses of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 . For example, when the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 is used in a wire harness of an automobile and the like, it is preferred that the diameter of the steel wire 2 is usually 0.05 to 0.5 mm or so.
  • the steel wire 2 can be previously degreased before carrying out hot-dip aluminum plating of the steel wire 2 .
  • the degreasing of the steel wire 2 can be carried out by, for example, a method which includes dipping the steel wire 2 in an alkaline degreasing liquid, taking out the steel wire 2 from the alkaline degreasing liquid, neutralizing the alkaline degreasing liquid deposited on the steel wire 2 , and washing the steel wire 2 with water; a method which includes carrying out electrolytic degreasing of the steel wire 2 by passing electricity through the steel wire 2 under a condition such that the steel wire 2 is dipped in an alkaline degreasing liquid; and the like.
  • the above-mentioned alkaline degreasing liquid may contain a surfactant from the viewpoint of improvement in degreasing property.
  • a plating film (not shown in the figure) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy has been formed on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 is excellent in adhesiveness to an aluminum wire when a wire harness is produced by bundling the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 with the aluminum wire, and tensile strength and temporal stability of electric resistance.
  • the steel wire 2 is provided from a delivery device 4 of the steel wire 2 . Thereafter, the steel wire 2 is continuously transferred in the direction of arrow A, and dipped in the molten aluminum 1 charged in a plating bath 5 .
  • the steel wire 2 is made of carbon steel, it is preferred that degreasing of the steel wire 2 is carried out between the delivery device 4 and the molten aluminum 1 , because there is a possibility that rust is generated on the surface of the steel wire 2 due to degreasing of the steel wire 2 until hot-dip aluminum plating of the steel wire 2 is carried out.
  • the degreasing of the steel wire 2 made of carbon steel can be carried out in the same manner as the above-mentioned method for degreasing the steel wire 2 .
  • the molten aluminum 1 may contain only aluminum.
  • the molten aluminum 1 may contain an element other than aluminum as occasion demands within a scope which would not hinder an object of the present invention.
  • the element other than aluminum include, for example, nickel, chromium, zinc, silicon, copper, iron and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • silicon is preferred from the viewpoint of suppression of generation of a brittle iron-aluminum alloy layer between iron contained in the steel wire 2 and aluminum contained in the plating film, increase in mechanical strength of the plating film and lowering in melting point of the molten aluminum 1 , thereby increase in efficiency of plating of the steel wire 2 .
  • the lower limit of the content of the above-mentioned element other than aluminum in the plating film is 0% by mass. From the viewpoint of sufficient exhibition of properties based on the element other than aluminum, the lower limit thereof is preferably 0.3% by mass or more, more preferably 0.5% by mass or more, and furthermore preferably 1% by mass or more. From the viewpoint of suppression of galvanic corrosion caused by contacting with an aluminum wire, the upper limit thereof is preferably 50% by mass or less, more preferably 20% by mass or less, and furthermore preferably 15% by mass or less.
  • an element such as nickel, chrome, zinc, copper or iron is possibly inevitably incorporated in the molten aluminum 1 .
  • the steel wire 2 is passed through a controller 8 for introducing a steel wire to hot-dip aluminum, which has a heating device 6 for heating the steel wire 2 prior to dipping of the steel wire 2 in the molten aluminum 1 , and a liquid surface-controlling device 7 . Since the present invention employs the above processes, a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface can be efficiently produced even when a steel wire is dipped in molten aluminum at a high speed of 200 m/min or more.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the heating device 6 used in the controller 8 for introducing a steel wire to hot-dip aluminum according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the heating device 6 has a heating device body 6 a having a cylindrical shape, made of, for example, stainless steel.
  • An inside 6 b of the heating device body 6 a is vacant in order to pass through the steel wire 2 in a direction of arrow B.
  • a branch pipe 6 e having a heating gas inlet 6 c for introducing a heating gas is provided at the side surface of the heating device body 6 a.
  • the heating gas which is introduced into the heating device 6 includes, for example, air, inert gases such as nitrogen gas, argon gas and helium gas, and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • the inert gases are preferred from the viewpoint of prevention of oxidization of the molten aluminum 1 existing in the liquid surface-controlling device 7 by ventilating the heating gas exhausted from the lower end 6 d of the heating device 6 to an introducing port equipped at the upper end 7 a of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 which is provided below the heating device 6 , to make the inside of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 an inert gas atmosphere.
  • the temperature of the heating gas cannot be absolutely determined because the temperature of the heating gas differs depending on the kind and diameter steel wire 2 being used, conditions such as a line speed of the steel wire 2 and a flow rate of the heating gas, and the like. Accordingly, it is preferred that the temperature of the heating gas is controlled so that the steel wire 2 is appropriately heated under the above conditions.
  • the heating temperature of the steel wire 2 is preferably 60° C. or higher, more preferably 80° C. or higher, furthermore preferably 150° C. or higher, and still more preferably 200° C. or higher, from the viewpoint of efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface even when the speed for drawing up the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 is controlled to a high speed such as 200 m/min or more.
  • the upper limit of the heating temperature cannot be absolutely determined because the upper limit of the heating temperature differs depending on the kind of the steel wire 2 and the like. It is preferred that the upper limit of the heating temperature is usually preferably 1000° C. or lower, more preferably 900° C. or lower, and furthermore preferably 800° C. or lower, in consideration of energy efficiency.
  • the above-mentioned heating temperature is a temperature determined in accordance with a method as described in the following working examples.
  • the upper limit of a line speed of the steel wire 2 is not particularly limited, and is preferably 1000 m/min or lower, and more preferably 800 mm/min or lower, from the viewpoint of efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface.
  • the length of the heating device body 6 a shown FIG. 2 can be a length in which the steel wire 2 is heated to a predetermined temperature, and is not particularly limited. As one example of the length thereof, for example, the length can be 1 to 5 m or so.
  • a diameter of the inside 6 b of the heating device body 6 a is appropriately adjusted in accordance with the diameter and kind of the steel wire 2 being used and the like, because the diameter of the inside 6 b differs depending on the diameter and kind of the steel wire 2 being used.
  • the diameter of the inside 6 b of the heating device body 6 a can be usually appropriately selected from a range of about 1.5 times to about 50 times of the diameter of the steel wire 2 in accordance with the diameter of the steel wire 2 .
  • the diameter of the inside 6 b of the heating device body 6 a is, for example, 0.3 mm to 10 mm or so when the steel wire 2 having a diameter of 0.2 mm is used.
  • the branch pipe 6 e having the heating gas inlet 6 c is provided on the side surface of the heating device body 6 a .
  • the steel wire 2 passing through the heating device 6 can be heated by introducing the heating gas into the heating gas inlet 6 c of the branch pipe 6 e .
  • the steel wire 2 can be heated by providing a heater (not shown in the figure) inside the branch pipe 6 e , and heating the heating gas passing through the branch pipe 6 e with the heater.
  • branch pipes 6 e are provided.
  • the number of the branch pipe 6 e is not particularly limited, and the number of the branch pipe 6 e can be only one, or can be 2 to 10.
  • a gap D is provided between a lower end 6 d of the heating device 6 and an upper end 7 a of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 provided below the heating device 6 .
  • the above-mentioned gap D is 3 mm or more from the viewpoint of efficient discharge of the heating gas from the gap D, and that the gap D is 10 mm or less when an inert gas is used as the heating gas, and the inside of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 is controlled to be an inert gas atmosphere.
  • the above-mentioned gap D is always provided.
  • the heating device 6 can be separately produced from the liquid surface-controlling device 7 , and the heating device 6 and the liquid surface-controlling device 7 can be united into one body by, for example, screw mating and the like.
  • an exhaust port (not shown in the figure) for exhausting the heating gas, which is passed through the inside of the heating device 6 , can be provided on the side surface of the heating device 6 or the liquid surface-controlling device 7 as occasion demands.
  • a heating device such as an electric heating device or an induction heating device can be used in place of the heating device 6 in the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 used in the controller for introducing a steel wire to the hot-dip aluminum 8 according to the present invention.
  • the liquid surface-controlling device 7 includes a tubular body 9 having a through hole 9 a for introducing the steel wire 2 into the tubular body 9 .
  • the tubular body 9 has a dipping region 9 b for dipping the tubular body 9 in the molten aluminum 1 from one end part of the tubular body which is to be dipped in the molten aluminum 1 to a virtual lime P along a longitudinal direction of the tubular body 9 .
  • the total length L of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 is preferably 30 mm or more, more preferably 40 mm or more, furthermore preferably 50 mm or more, from the viewpoint of prevention of intrusion of the plating liquid of the molten aluminum 1 into an introducing port 9 c for introducing the steel wire 2 when the dipping region 9 b is dipped in the molten aluminum 1 , or prevention of intrusion of an oxide film which is generated on the surface of the molten aluminum 1 into the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 .
  • the total length L of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 is preferably 500 mm or less, more preferably 300 mm or less, and furthermore preferably 100 mm or less, from the viewpoint of miniaturization of the tubular body 9 , improvement in workability and efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface.
  • the length of the dipping region 9 b is preferably 2 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and furthermore preferably 10 mm or more, from the viewpoint of avoidance of affection of swaying of the surface of the molten aluminum 1 , and efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface.
  • the length of the dipping region 9 b is preferably 20 mm or less, and more preferably 15 mm or less, from the viewpoint of miniaturization of the tubular body 9 , improvement in workability, and efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface.
  • the length of the tubular body 9 along the longitudinal direction of the tubular body 9 where the tubular body 9 is not dipped in the molten aluminum 1 is preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 10 mm or more, from the viewpoint of prevention of intrusion of the plating liquid of the molten aluminum 1 into the introducing port 9 c of the tubular body 9 , or prevention of intrusion of an oxide film which is generated on the surface of the molten aluminum 1 into the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 .
  • a value of a ratio of an area of the opening part of the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 to an area of the cross section of the steel wire 2 used in hot-dip aluminum plating, which is a so-called cross-section of the steel wire 2 [area of the opening part of the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 /area of the cross section of the steel wire 2 ] is preferably 3 or more from the viewpoint of smooth introduction of the steel wire 2 into the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 and efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface.
  • the value of the ratio is preferably 4000 or less, more preferably 3000 or less, furthermore preferably 2000 or less, and still more preferably 1000 or less, from the viewpoint of efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film over the whole surface.
  • the shape of the opening part of the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 can be circular, oval, or polygon such as square or rectangle, and the present invention is not limited by the shape thereof.
  • the gap (clearance) between the opening part of the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 and the steel wire 2 is preferably 10 ⁇ m or more, more preferably 20 ⁇ m or more, furthermore preferably 50 ⁇ m or more, and still more preferably 100 ⁇ m or more, from the viewpoint of avoidance of sliding of an inner wall of the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 and the steel wire 2 .
  • the opening parts of the through hole 9 a provided in the tubular body 9 are an opening part 9 d provided at the introducing port 9 c for introducing the steel wire 2 from one end of the tubular body 9 , and an opening part 9 f provided at a discharge port 9 e for discharging the steel wire 2 from another end of the tubular body 9 as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the area and shape of the opening part 9 d can be the same as those of the opening part 9 f
  • the area and shape of the opening part 9 d can be different from those of the opening part 9 f
  • it is preferred that the area and shape of the opening part 9 d is the same as those of the opening part 9 f , respectively, as shown in FIG.
  • the steel wire 2 is introduced to the introducing port 9 c of the tubular body 9 which constructs the liquid surface-controlling device 7 shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the steel wire 2 is taken out from the discharge port 9 e , and dipped in the molten aluminum 1 .
  • the steel wire 2 dipped in the molten aluminum 1 is drawn up upward from the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 , to form a plating film made of the molten aluminum 1 on the surface of the steel wire 2 , and thereby the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 is obtained.
  • a stabilization member 11 is contacted with the steel wire 2 at a boundary between the steel wire 2 and the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing the boundary between the steel wire 2 and the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 when the steel wire 2 is drawn up from the molten aluminum 1 in the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire according to the present invention.
  • the stabilization member 11 includes, for example, a square rod made of stainless steel, in which a heat-resistant cloth 11 a is wound around the surface of the square rod, and the like.
  • the heat-resistant cloth 11 a wound around the surface of the square rod includes, for example, woven fabric and non-woven fabric, containing a heat-resistant fiber such as a ceramic fiber, a carbon fiber, an aramid fiber or an imide fiber, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones. It is preferred that a virgin surface (new surface) of the heat-resistant cloth 11 a of the stabilization member 11 is contacted with the steel wire 2 from the viewpoint of suppression of deposition of an aluminum lump on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • the stabilization member 11 is contacted with both of the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 and the steel wire 2 at the same time.
  • the stabilization member 11 is contacted with both of the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 and the steel wire 2 at the same time as mentioned above, pulsation of the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 can be suppressed, and minute vibration of the steel wire 2 can be suppressed by the stabilization member 11 during drawing up of the steel wire 2 in contact of the steel wire 2 with the stabilization member 11 .
  • a plating film 17 of the molten aluminum 1 can be uniformly formed on the surface of the steel wire 2 .
  • the stabilization member 11 when the stabilization member 11 is contacted with the steel wire 2 , it is preferred that the stabilization member 11 is slightly pressed toward the steel wire 2 in order to apply tension to the steel wire 2 as occasion demands from the viewpoint of suppression of minute vibration of the steel wire 2 .
  • a nozzle 12 for blowing an inert gas to the boundary between the steel wire 2 and the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 is provided.
  • a tip end 12 a of a nozzle 12 is provided so that an inert gas is blown from the tip end 12 a to the boundary between the steel wire 2 and the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 .
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a uniform outer diameter and little aluminum lump on its surface can be efficiently produced by appropriately controlling the distance (the shortest distance) from the steel wire 2 to a tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 , the temperature of the inert gas discharged from the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 , an inner diameter of the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 , and a volume flow rate discharged from the nozzle 12 .
  • the distance (the shortest distance) from the steel wire 2 to the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 is preferably 1 mm or more from the viewpoint of avoidance of a contact of the tip end 12 a with the steel wire 2 , and efficient production of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • the distance (the shortest distance) from the steel wire 2 to the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 is preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 40 mm or less, furthermore preferably 30 mm or less, and still more preferably 10 mm or less, from the viewpoint of production of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a uniform outer diameter and little aluminum lump on its surface.
  • the inside diameter of the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 is preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 2 mm or more, from the viewpoint of efficient production of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 by accurately blowing an inert gas from the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 to the boundary between the steel wire 2 and the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 .
  • the inside diameter of the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 is preferably 15 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or less, and furthermore preferably 5 mm or less, from the viewpoint of production of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a uniform outer diameter and little aluminum lump on its surface.
  • the inert gas can be provided, for example, from an inert gas providing apparatus 13 shown in FIG. 1 through a pipe 14 to the nozzle 12 .
  • a flow controller such as a valve (not shown in the figure) can be provided in the inert gas providing apparatus 13 or the pipe 14 in order to control the flow rate of the inert gas.
  • the inert gas means a gas which is inert to molten aluminum.
  • the inert gas include, for example, nitrogen gas, argon gas, helium gas and the like, and the present invention is not limited only to those exemplified ones.
  • nitrogen gas is preferable.
  • the inert gas may contain, for example, oxygen gas, carbon dioxide gas and the like within a scope which would not hinder an object of the present invention.
  • the volume flow rate of the inert gas discharged from the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 is preferably 2 L (liter)/min or more, more preferably 5 L/min or more, and furthermore preferably 10 L/min or more, from the viewpoint of production of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a uniform outer diameter and little aluminum lump on its surface.
  • the volume flow rate of the inert gas thereof is preferably 200 L/min or less, more preferably 150 L/min or less, and furthermore preferably 100 L/min or less, from the viewpoint of suppression of deposition of an aluminum lump on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 due to scattering of the molten aluminum 1 .
  • the temperature of the inert gas discharged from the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 is preferably 200° C. or higher, more preferably 300° C. or higher, and furthermore preferably 400° C. or higher, from the viewpoint of production of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a uniform outer diameter and little aluminum lump on its surface.
  • the temperature of the inert gas thereof is preferably 800° C. or lower, more preferably 780° C. or lower, and furthermore preferably 750° C. or lower, from the viewpoint of increase in thermal efficiency.
  • the temperature of the inert gas discharged from the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 is a temperature as determined by inserting a thermocouple for measuring a temperature, such as a sheath thermocouple having a diameter of 1.6 mm into the inert gas apart from the tip end 12 a of the nozzle 12 in a distance of 2 mm.
  • the line speed in drawing up the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 from the surface 10 of the molten aluminum 1 is not particularly limited. It is preferred that the line speed is appropriately controlled in accordance with the average thickness of a plating film formed on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • the average thickness of the plating film 17 formed on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 can be appropriately controlled by adjusting the line speed.
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 even when the line speed of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 is controlled to a high speed such as 200 m/min or more, the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a uniform outer diameter and a plating film 17 formed over the whole surface can be produced. Accordingly, the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 according to the present invention is excellent in industrial productivity of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 , because the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 having a plating film 17 formed over the whole surface can be efficiently produced.
  • a cooling device 15 can be provided above the nozzle 12 as occasion demands as illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to cool the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 in the course of drawing up of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 , and efficiently solidify the plating film 17 formed on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 can be cooled by blowing, for example, gas, liquid mist or the like to the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 in the cooling device 15 .
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 produced in the above can be collected by means of, for example, a winding device 16 or the like as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the average thickness of the plating film formed on the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 is preferably 2 ⁇ m to 20 ⁇ m or so, more preferably 4 ⁇ m to 15 ⁇ m or so, from the viewpoint of suppression of exposure of the steel wire 2 included in the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 to the air in carrying out a process such as a wire stranding process or a crimpling process, and increase in mechanical strength per unit outer diameter of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 .
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 obtained in the above can be subjected to a drawing process using dies and the like as occasion demands so that the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 has an appropriate diameter.
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 obtained in the present invention can be suitably used, for example, in a wire harness of an automobile, and the like.
  • a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire was produced based on the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • a steel wire As a steel wire, a steel wire having a diameter shown in each table, and made of steel shown in each table was used.
  • the term “37A” listed in the column of “kind” of “steel wire” in Table 2 and Table 3 means a steel wire made of high carbon steel containing 0.37% by mass of carbon.
  • the steel wire was subjected to degreasing by dipping the steel wire in a degreasing liquid containing sodium orthosilicate and a surfactant, before the steel wire was dipped in the hot-dip aluminum.
  • the steel wire was heated at a heating temperature shown in each table by introducing the steel wire into a heating device, before the steel wire was introduced into a liquid surface-controlling device.
  • a heating device having a heating device body of which inner diameter is 10 mm, and eight branch pipes in each of which a Kanthal® wire (not shown in the figure) wound in a coil shape was built.
  • An introducing gas shown in each table was supplied to each branch pipe, to heat the introducing gas, and the heated introducing gas was introduced to the inside of the heating device body, to preheat the steel wire.
  • a steel wire connected with a thermocouple was prepared, and the thermocouple was passed through the heating device together with the steel wire, to determine the preheating temperature.
  • a liquid surface-controlling device 7 shown in FIG. 3 which was produced by assembling blocks or square bars made of stainless steel, was used.
  • the liquid surface-controlling device 7 had a total length L of 100 mm, and the shape, size and area of the opening part 9 d of the introducing port 9 c of the through hole 9 a were the same as those of the opening part 9 f of the discharge port 9 e of the through hole 9 a .
  • the shape, size and area of the opening part of the through hole 9 a of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 , and the value of the ratio of the area of the opening part of the through hole 9 a of the tubular body 9 to the area of the cross section of the steel wire (referred to as “value of area ratio” in each table) were listed in each table.
  • the dipping region 9 b having a length of 10 mm from the lower end of the liquid surface-controlling device 7 was dipped in the molten aluminum, and the steel wire being introduced into the liquid surface-controlling device 7 was subsequently dipped in the molten aluminum.
  • molten aluminum containing 8% by mass of silicon referred to as “8% Si” in the column “kind” of “hot-dip Al” in each table
  • the steel wire was dipped in the molten aluminum at a temperature of the molten aluminum shown in each table at a line speed (speed of drawing up of steel wire) shown in each table, and then the steel wire was drawn up from the molten aluminum.
  • a nozzle having an inner diameter of 3 mm at the tip was provided so that the tip of the nozzle was positioned at a place apart from the steel wire in a distance of 2 mm.
  • An inert gas (nitrogen gas) of which temperature was controlled to 600° C. was discharged from the tip of the nozzle at a volume flow rate of 10 L/min, and was blown to the boundary between the steel wire and the surface of the molten aluminum.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing one embodiment of a method for determining an average thickness of a plating film of a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire obtained in each of working examples and comparative examples.
  • a device 18 for measuring a diameter of a steel wire by passing through the steel wire a device for measuring a diameter having two optical micrometers each of which was commercially available from KEYENCE CORPORATION under the product number of LS-7000 was used as shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the device 18 for measuring a diameter had a pair of a pulley 18 c and a pulley 18 d which were positioned in a vertical direction against the steel wire, and a pair of a light emitting unit 18 a and a light receiving unit 18 b which were arranged in a horizontal direction at a central position between the pulley 18 c and the pulley 18 d .
  • the light emitting unit 18 a and the light receiving unit 18 b were arranged so that the light emitting unit 18 a and the light receiving unit 18 b were opposed to each other.
  • the light emitting unit 18 a and the light receiving unit 18 b adjacent each other were arranged so that an angle between the light emitting unit 18 a and the light receiving unit 18 b was 90° as shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the outer diameter of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire 3 was measured at an interval of a length of about 1.4 mm in the longitudinal direction of the aluminum-plated steel wire 3 by means of the device 18 for measuring a diameter. The number of measurement points of the outer diameter was adjusted to about 71000 points.
  • the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire having a length of 100 m, obtained in each working example or each comparative example was observed over the entire length with a naked eye by using a microscope.
  • the length of the portion where a plating film was not formed was measured by pulling out the steel wire within a range from 250 mm before the portion where a plating film was not formed to 250 mm after the portion where a plating film was not formed [hereinafter referred to as observed length (500 mm)].
  • non-plated length The length of the portion where a plating film was not formed in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as non-plated length) was measured, and non-plated rate was determined in accordance with the following equation:
  • Non-plated rate is less than 1% (pass). 4: Non-plated rate is 1% or more and less than 5% (pass). 3: Non-plated rate is 5% or more and less than 30% (pass). 2: Non-plated rate is 30% or more and less than 60% (failure). 1: Non-plated rate is 60% or more (failure).
  • FIG. 6 Each outer appearance of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wires obtained in Example 2, Example 7 and Comparative Examples 1-2 is shown in FIG. 6 .
  • a white arrow shown in the figure denotes the area where a plating film was not formed (non-plating area) when the surface of the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire was observed. From the results shown in FIG. 6 , it can be seen that a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire having a plating film over the whole surface can be efficiently produced according to the above-mentioned working examples.
  • the hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire obtained by the method for producing a hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire according to the present invention can be suitably used in, for example, a wire harness of automobiles.
US16/083,620 2016-03-11 2017-03-07 Method for producing hot-dip aluminum-coated steel wire Abandoned US20190136358A1 (en)

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