Abstract: The invention relates to a vapour generator for the deposition of a metal coating onto a substrate (7), preferably a steel strip, that comprises a vacuum chamber (6) in the form of a housing including a vapour deposition head or ejector (3) in tight communication via a supply duct (4) with at least one crucible (1) containing the coating metal in a liquid form and located outside the vacuum chamber (6), characterised in that the ejector (3) includes a longitudinal slot for the vapour outlet acting as a sonic throat and extending on the entire width of the substrate (7), a filtration medium or a charge loss member (3A) made of a sintered material being provided in the ejector immediately before said slot on the vapour path in order to equalise the flow speed of the vapour exiting the ejector (3) through the sonic throat.

Abstract: A method for creating a welded steel part includes providing a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer; providing a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer; butt welding the first and second steel plates at a weld so as to melt material from at least the first base, the first intermetallic alloy layer, the second base and the second intermetallic layer to form a molten weld material; austenizing the welded steel plates at a temperature between Ac1 and Ac3+100 degrees C. for a time greater than or equal to 20 seconds; and cooling the welded steel plates so as to render a uniform microstructure to the weld.

Abstract: A method deposits a metal alloy coating on a substrate using a vacuum deposition facility. The facility is equipped with a vapour generator/mixer comprising a vacuum chamber enclosure provided with an inlet and an outlet for the substrate. The enclosure includes a vapour deposition head and an ejector is provided to create a jet of metal alloy vapour of sonic velocity towards the surface of the substrate and perpendicular thereto. The ejector is in sealed communication with a separate mixer device, which is itself connected upstream to at least two crucibles respectively, these containing different metals in liquid form, each crucible being connected to the mixer by its own pipe. The method uses a series of partitions to create alternating layers of metal vapours. The metal vapours enter the mixer inlet of the mixer at a velocity from 5 to 50 m/s to provide better homogeneity.

Abstract: A steel plate, the chemical composition of which includes, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.010%?C?0.20%, 0.06%?Mn?3%, Si?1.5%, 0.005%?Al?1.5%, S?0.030%, P?0.040%, 2.5%?Ti?7.2%, (0.45×Ti)?0.35%?B?(0.45×Ti)+0.70%, and optionally one or more elements chosen from: Ni?1%, Mo?1%, Cr?31, Nb?0.1%, V?0.1%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting.

Abstract: A formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.

Abstract: A hot-rolled steel sheet having a tensile strength greater than 800 MPa and an elongation at break greater than 10% is provided. A composition of the steel includes, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.050%?C?0.090%, 1%?Mn?2%, 0.015%?Al?0.050%, 0.1%?Si?0.3%, 0.10%?Mo?0.40%, S?0.010%, P?0.025%, 0.003%?N?0.009%, 0.12%?V?0.22%, Ti?0.005%, Nb?0.020% and optionally, Cr?0.45%. A balance of the composition includes iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting. A microstructure of the sheet or part includes, as a surface fraction, at least 80% upper bainite, and a remainder includes lower bainite, martensite and residual austenite. A sum of the martensite and residual austenite, as a surface fraction, is less than 5%.

Abstract: A process for secondary descaling of running metal strips, especially made of steel, during hot-rolling by-spraying water onto the surface of the running metal strips with spray rails having nozzles supplied with pressurized water, wherein the nozzles are supplied at a hydraulic pressure of from 3 to 30 bar, and wherein the nozzles are regulated so that heat flux density extracted from the strip (HF) resulting from the cooling of its surface by the sprayed water is between 6.5 and 20 MW/m2 for a strip temperature between 900 and 1100° C.

Abstract: A steel part having a homogeneous multiphase microstructure in each region of the part, the microstructure containing ferrite, wherein the steel part is obtained by a process involving: cutting a blank from a strip of steel, having a specified composition; optionally, the blank undergoes prior cold deformation; the blank is heated to reach a soak temperature Ts above Ac1 but below Ac3 and held at this soak temperature Ts for a soak time ts adjusted so that the steel, after the blank has been heated, has an austenite content equal to or greater than 25% by area; the heated blank is transferred into a forming tool to hot-form the part; and the part is cooled within the tool at a cooling rate V such that the microstructure of the steel, after cooling the part, is a multiphase microstructure containing ferrite and being homogeneous in each region of the part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum deposition facility for depositing a metal alloy coating on a substrate (7), said facility being equipped with a vapour generator/mixer comprising a vacuum chamber (6) in the form of an enclosure provided with means for creating a vacuum state therein relative to the external environment and provided with means for the entry and exit of the substrate (7), while still being essentially sealed from the external environment, said enclosure including a vapour deposition head, called the injector (3), configured so as to create a jet of metal alloy vapour of sonic velocity towards the surface of the substrate (7) and perpendicular thereto, said ejector (3) being in sealed communication with a separate mixer device (14), which is itself connected upstream to at least two crucibles (11, 12) respectively, these containing different metals M1 and M2 in liquid form, each crucible (11, 12) being connected to the mixer (14) by its own pipe (4, 4?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot-rolled steel sheet having a tensile strength greater than 800 MPa and an elongation at break greater than 10%, the composition of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.050%?C?0.090%, 1%?Mn?2%, 0.015%?Al?0.050%, 0.1%?Si?0.3%, 0.10%?Mo?0.40%, S?0.010%, P?0.025%, 0.003%?N?0.009%, 0.12%?V?0.22%, Ti?0.005%, Nb?0.020% and, optionally, Cr?0.45%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting, the microstructure of the sheet or the part comprising, as a surface fraction, at least 80% upper bainite, the possible complement consisting of lower bainite, martensite and residual austenite, the sum of the martensite and residual austenite contents being less than 5%.

Abstract: An austenitic steel sheet excellent in resistance to delayed cracking is provided. The composition of said steel comprises in weight: 0.35%?C?1.05% 15%?Mn?26% Si?3% Al?0.050% S?0.030% P?0.080% N?0.1%, at least one metallic element X chosen among vanadium, titanium, niobium, molybdenum, chromium 0.050%?V?0.50%, 0.040%?Ti?0.50% 0.070%?Nb?0.50% 0.14%?Mo?2% 0.070%?Cr?2%. The composition may optionally include B, Ni and/or Cu. The remainder of the composition includes iron and unavoidable impurities inherent to fabrication, including hydrogen. The quantity Xp of the at least one metallic element under the form of carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides is, in weight: 0.030%?Vp?0.40% 0.030%?Tip?0.50% 0.040%?Nbp?0.40% 0.14%?Mop?0.44% 0.070%?Crp?0.6%. The hydrogen content Hmax designating the maximal hydrogen content that can be measured from a series of at least five specimens, and the quantity Xp, in weight, is such that: 1000 ? H max X P ? 3.3 .

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot-rolled steel sheet having a tensile strength of greater than 1200 MPa, an Re/Rm ratio of less than 0.75 and an elongation at break of greater than 10%, the composition of which contains, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.10%?C?0.25%; 1%?Mn?3%; Al?0.015%; Si?1.985%; Mo?0.30%; Cr?1.5%; S?0.015%; P?0.1%; Co?1.5%; B?0.005%; it being understood that 1%?Si+Al?2%; Cr+(3×Mo)?0.3%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting, the microstructure of the steel consisting of at least 75% bainite, residual austenite in an amount equal to or greater than 5% and martensite in an amount equal to or greater than 2%.

Abstract: A cold-rolled and annealed ferritic steel sheet is provided. The steel has a composition comprising, expressed by weight: 0.001?C?0.15%; Mn?1%; Si?1.5%; 7.5%?AI?10%; 0.020%?Ti?0.5%; S?0.050%; and P?0.1%. A balance of the composition includes iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting. The structure includes kappa (?) precipitates and equiaxed ferrite, an average grain size d? of the equiaxed ferrite is less than 50 microns, and a linear fraction f of intergranular ? precipitates is less than 30%. The linear fraction f is defined by f = ? ( A ) ? di ? ( A ) ? Li . ?(A)di denotes the total length of grain boundaries containing ? precipitates relative to an area (A) and ?(A)Li denotes the total length of the grain boundaries relative to the area (A). A content of carbon in solid solution is less than 0.005% by weight, and the cold-rolled and annealed ferritic steel sheet has a thickness between 0.6 mm and 1.5 mm.

Abstract: Steel sheet, the composition of the steel of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.08%?C?0.23%, 1%?Mn?2%, 1?Si?2%, Al?0.030%, 0.1%?V?0.25%, Ti?0.010%, S?0.015%, P?0.1%, 0.004%?N?0.012%, and, optionally, one or more elements chosen from: Nb?0.1%, Mo?0.5%, Cr?0.3%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steel plate, the chemical composition of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.010%?C?0.20%, 0.06%?Mn?3%, Si?1.5%, 0.005%?Al?1.5%, S?0.030%, P?0.040%, 2.5%?Ti?7.2%, (0.45×Ti)?0.35%?B?(0.45×Ti)+0.70%, and optionally one or more elements chosen from: Ni?1%, Mo?1%, Cr?3%, Nb?0.1%, V?0.1%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting.

Abstract: Coated steel having a well defined and uniform thickness is useful and advantageous for preparing products by hot stamping. Products prepared by hot stamping such a steel are particularly advantageous when subjected to a subsequent spot welding step.

Abstract: A plate is provided. The plate includes a steel substrate and a precoat having a layer of intermetallic alloy in contact with the substrate, topped by a layer of aluminum alloy. On at least one precoated face of the plate, an area situated at the periphery of the plate has the aluminum alloy layer removed. A part and a welded blank are also provided. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a precoated steel plate is provided. The method includes coating a steel plate by dipping the steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a precoat upon the steel plate. The precoat consists of an intermetallic alloy layer and a metal alloy layer, the intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the metal alloy layer. On at least one face of the plate, the metal alloy layer is removed in an area at a periphery of the plate using a laser beam, while at least part of the intermetallic alloy layer is left in the area. The step of removing includes measuring a characteristic of the laser or an area where the metal alloy area is to be removed to obtain a measured value, comparing the measured value with a reference value and stopping a removal operation to leave the at least part of the intermetallic alloy in place as function of the comparing step. Additional methods are also provided.