Impact of new rolling and cooling technologies on thermomechanically processed steels

At the hot strip mill, two different important trends are being observed: t he development of thinner hot strips for direct applications as a substitut e for cold rolled and annealed sheets; and the production of strip of incre ased strength, for various applications, which requires an adequate balance of ductility, formability, weldability, fatigue resistance, toughness, and /or crash resistance, In these grades the absence of internal stresses is a lso often required. The development of new rolling and cooling technologies that allow the production at low cost of new grades with better reproducib ility and consistency of the mechanical properties is reviewed. (C) 2001 lo M Communications Ltd.