Abstract: Hot-rolled steel sheet which then can be cold-rolled, coated, the steel in the sheet having the following composition by weight: 0.15%<carbon<0.5% 0.5%<manganese<3% 0.1%<silicon<0.5% 0.01%<chromium<1% titanium<0.2% aluminum<0.1% phosphorus<0.1% sulfur<0.05% 0.0005%<boron<0.08%, the remainder being iron and impurities inherent in processing, the sheet ensuring a very high mechanical resistance after thermal treatment and the aluminum-based coating ensuring a high resistance to corrosion.

Abstract: An electrophoretic coating process of the surface of a sample in a bath, and a coating system, in which, during the flow of an electrophoretic current, one subjects the bath or the sample to vibrational movements so as to produce vaporous cavitations in the vicinity of the surface of the sample. The vibrations may be applied only in an initial phase of the beginning of current flow and/or only in a second phase at the end of current flow. In the system, the vibrations are generated using vibrational generators positioned in only at least one of the beginning and end positions of the container holding the bath.

Abstract: The subject for the invention is a process for manufacturing strip. The process includes casting directly from liquid metal a steel strip 1.5 to 10 mm in thickness, subjecting the cast steel strip, in the austenitic phase, to a first hot rolling operation in one or more steps at a temperature of between 950° C. and the Ar3 temperature of said strip with an overall reduction ratio of at least 10%, then subjecting the hot rolled strip, in the ferritic phase, to a second hot rolling operation in one or more steps at a temperature below 850° C., with an overall reduction ratio of at least 50% in the presence of a lubricant, so as to obtain a hot-rolled sheet with a thickness of less than or equal to 2 mm, and recrystallizing the hot rolled sheet at a temperature between 700 and 800° C. The composition of the steel strip comprises (in weight %): carbon less than 0.1%, manganese from 0.03 to 2%, silicon from 0 to 0.5%, phosphorus from 0 to 0.1%, boron from 0 to 0.002%, titanium from 0 to 0.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a shaped metal can comprising, on one hand, a bottom (1) and a peripheral wall (2) having a succession of regions of different diameters and, on the other hand, a lid crimped or seamed on the peripheral wall (2). The process comprises producing from a metal blank a cylindrical preliminary can comprising a bottom and a peripheral wall of diameter equal to a given diameter D of a region (2A) of the peripheral wall 2 of the can, effecting a necking operation on a part of the peripheral wall of the preliminary can situated above the region (2A) of the given diameter D of the peripheral wall (2) of the formed can to bring it to a diameter D1 less than the given diameter D, and effecting at least one expanding operation on a part of the peripheral wall situated above the region (2A) of the given diameter D.

Abstract: An electrophoretic coating process of the surface of a sample in a bath, and a coating system, in which, during the flow of an electrophoretic current, one subjects the bath or the sample to vibrational movements so as to produce vaporous cavitations in the vicinity of the surface of the sample. The vibrations may be applied only in an initial phase of the beginning of current flow and/or only in a second phase at the end of current flow. In the system, the vibrations are generated using vibrational generators positioned in only at least one of the beginning and end positions of the container holding the bath.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting surface defects on a running metal strip (1), which comprises means (2) for illuminating the area (3) of the strip (1) to be inspected, at least one pair of cameras (4, 5) each periodically capturing an image of the same portion (6) of said area (3), a computing unit (7) comprising means for reconstructing a stereoscopic image of said portion (6) from the images provided by the pair of cameras (4, 5), means for detecting, on said stereoscopic image, those objects which exhibit a relief—as a projection or as an indentation—with respect to the surface of the strip (1) greater than a predetermined threshold, means for analyzing the images of said objects and means (10) for displaying the result of this analysis to the operator.

Abstract: A probe is provided for measuring the wear of a wall in a metallurgical vessel. The probe includes at least two electrically conducting elements which extend generally mutually parallel, and a tubular sheath wherein the electrically conducting elements extend interiorly of said sheath, and are mutually insulated via a refractory insulator. The probe is adapted to be implanted in the transverse direction in the wall of a metallurgical vessel with the distal end of each of the two electrically conducting elements being disposed at the interior surface of said wall. A measurement system is connected to the opposite proximal ends of the electrically conducting elements for measuring an electrical characteristic of the circuit formed by said elements that depends on the length of the elements. The probe has a diameter less than 1 mm achieved by stretching after the components have been assembled into an intermediate assembly having a larger cross sectional area than the final cross section.

Abstract: A coating layer for sheet metal is provided that is comprised of an aluminum-silicon alloy having low emissivity. The coated sheet metal may be used as heat shield material, particularly for heat sources having temperatures greater than 500° C., which sources may be, e.g., the hotter parts of the conduits of automotive exhaust systems. The sheet metal may be sheet steel coated on at least one of its principal surfaces with a layer of a coating comprised of an alloy of silicon in the amount of 7-11 wt. % and aluminum in the amount of 87-93 wt. %. The coated surface of the sheet has a monochromatic emissivity less than 0.15 for all wavelengths in the range of 1.5-15 microns.

Abstract: Process using the following stages in the following order: a) scouring, b) initial surface treatment in a single operation meeting three criteria relating to resistance to corrosion, lubrication and cleanability, c) shaping, d) second so-called nickeling surface treatment, e) enameling. With the aid of this order of operations and the criteria defining the initial surface treatment, scouring may be carried out on line on the installations for production of sheet-steel strips.

Abstract: Both a method and apparatus for regulating the position of a camera in a thermographic control and monitoring arrangement is provided for a system for welding together at least two metal plates along a joint plane. The apparatus includes a welding head that generates a high energy-density welding beam, a camera for thermographically monitoring the welding carried out by the welding beam, a movable frame member for supporting the welding head and camera, a fixed light source disposed in a zone that is accessible by the welding beam generated by the welding head, and an adjustment assembly for regulating the position of the camera with respect to the welding head. In the method, the welding beam is moved into a reference position with respect to a point source of light. Next, the frame member is displaced by a specific distance d corresponding to the distance desired between an impact point I of the welding beam and the field of view of the camera on the plate is being welded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metallurgical reactor for the treatment under reduced pressure of a liquid metal (1) such as steel, contained in a ladle (2), of the type comprising a chamber (25), connected to a gas-suction plant (30) which can maintain a reduced pressure therein, and two tubular snorkels (26, 27), the upper ends of which emerge in orifices (35, 36) made in the bottom (28) of the chamber (25) and the lower ends of which may be immersed in said liquid metal (1) contained in said ladle (2), one (26) of said snorkels, called the "ascending snorkel", having means (29) for injecting a gas into its internal space for the purpose of creating a circulatory motion in the liquid metal (1) between the ladle (2) and the chamber (25) during said treatment, the reactor also comprising an enclosure (17) which is provided with means (20) for injecting a gas into its internal space, these means being suitable for creating a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure in the enclosure (17), and the ladle (2) being p

Abstract: In a process for continuously casting a metal strand by casting metal into a straight, vertically oriented mold and subsequently drawing off the strand formed in the mold, the straight strand at first is bent into a circular arc shape in a bending zone along a transition curve, is guided along a circular arc guide and finally is straightened in a final straightening zone along a transition curve and, after this, is extracted via an approximately horizontal straight guide.

Abstract: A process for producing a strip of steel sheet, for the production of metal packaging, comprising forming a hot-rolled strip of steel having the following composition by weight: carbon up to 0.08%, silicon .ltoreq.0.020%, manganese between 0.05% and 0.60%, sulphur .ltoreq.0.020%, phosphorus .ltoreq.0.020%, nitrogen up to 0.016%, aluminum up to 0.060%, copper .ltoreq.0.06%, nickel .ltoreq.0.040%, and, optionally, chromium and boron, the balance consisting of iron and inevitable impurities, then carrying out a first cold-rolling operation on the hot-rolled strip in order to obtain a blank, subjecting the blank to a continuous recrystallization annealing operation, carrying out a second cold-rolling operation on the blank in at least two passes in order to obtain the sheet with its final thickness, wherein between the two passes of the second cold rolling, the strip of sheet is subjected to an ageing operation at a temperature of at most 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A bath of pH higher than 4 containing more than 1 mole/liter of Zn.sup.++ ions and at least one polyethylene glycol polymer of the general formula R.sup.1 --O(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O).sub.n --R.sup.2, in which n.ltoreq.13 and in which the concentration of polymer in the bath is adapted to incorporate in the coat an organic compound having a content by weight greater than 0.1%, expressed as weight of carbon per unit weight of the coat. The bath is adapted to high current densities, and the coat applied on the steel sheet imparts both a leveling effect and an improvement of corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting defects in a moving cast metal strip is provided that includes at least one Lamb-wave transducer housed inside a sensor wheel made of flexible material. The sensor wheel contains an acoustic coupling fluid and is designed to come into running contact with the surface of the product to be inspected. A runner is placed upstream of the sensor wheel for contact with the surface of the strip to be inspected. Upstream of the runner, a delivery system for delivering coupling fluid onto the surface of the moving product is provided, this fluid serving to wet the surface of the strip. The runner includes a roller having a contact width the same or greater than the width of the product for uniformly spreading the coupling fluid over the product. All of these components are installed in a movable carriage which is designed to run over the metal strip surface. The apparatus is capable of detecting defects in a steel strip moving at high speed.

Abstract: The mold includes a cooled copper body 4 on top of which sits a refractory feed head 9 which itself consists of two separate components--a thermally insulating upper bush 16 and a bottom annulus 17 made of a stronger and more compact refractory which is surrounded by a crimping ring 18 narrower than the annulus, so that an edge of the annulus extends beyond each side of the ring. As the lower inner edge of the bottom annulus becomes worn due to an erosive flow of molten metal, the working life of the annulus may be extended in two ways. First, the annulus may be removed between casting operations and its bottom surface may be faced. Second, after the facing operations have rendered the bottom surface flush with the crimping ring 18, the annulus may then be inverted so that the lower inner edge is replaced with the upper inner edge.

Abstract: An electroplating installation for coating the conducting surface of a part. The installation includes electrodes submerged in a bath. The electrodes rest on a support device that serves as a support and a current supply. The electrodes and the support device form an interface defining a plurality of grooves opening into the bath. The grooves may be formed in the electrodes, in the support device, or in both the electrodes and the support device.

Abstract: During the application of a roll coating on a metal substrate, using double contactless measuring sensors (1, 3), inductive, and for instance optical or capacitive, the method consists in effecting, before application, at least a double distance measurement over a strip zone not yet coated, then, effecting, after application, at least another double distance measurement over approximately the same zone already coated, and the thickness of the applied coating is deduced from the double measurements before application and after application. The invention is applicable to the measurement of thickness, on ferromagnetic substrates, of non solidified coatings, in particular liquid or pasty and to the adjustment of thickness in installations with corresponding coatings.

Abstract: An annularly shaped piece (28) formed from refractory material is provided for a tundish (1) for continuous casting of metals for enclosing a plasma torch (18) for heating liquid metal (4). The interior wall (29) of the annularly shaped piece defines a space which widens with progression toward the bottom, the piece having an upper opening (30) and a lower opening and accommodating penetration of the lower end region of the torch (18) into the space. The annularly shaped piece (28) is fixed to a cover (24) or to the refractory walls (3) of the tundish (1), and/or is fixed to one or more dividing walls (10) which delimit a heating compartment (13) in the interior of said tundish (1), wherewith the space defined by the interior wall (29) of said piece (28) widens with progression toward the bottom of the tundish (1).

Abstract: This mold consists of a cooled mold body (1), made of copper or a copper alloy, on which sits a refractory feed head (2) and a purge slit (8) is made at the interface between said mold body and said feed head, via which a stream of a waste inert gas is injected around the internal perimeter of the mold. The slit is supplied via a plenum chamber (13) made within the mold, the plenum chamber being itself supplied with gas via inlets (12) which connect it to a pressurized-gas supply (20). The injection slit (8) is segmented around the mold perimeter with the aid of separating means (21) which also segment the plenum chamber into compartments (13', 13", etc.) which are juxtaposed around the perimeter of the mold so that an inlet (12) runs out into each compartment thus formed.