Abstract: Process for manufacturing modified starch. A powdery starch composition raw material, containing a specified amount of a phosphate with respect to a raw material starch on a dry basis, is subject to esterification modification by performing a first step of heat treating by raising a temperature gradually and performing, in continuation, a second step of heat treating at a constant temperature. A temperature rise starting temperature of the first step is set within a range from an ordinary temperature to a temperature no more than a gelatinization starting temperature of the raw material starch, a temperature rise rate is set to 0.2 to 1° C./min, and a temperature rise final temperature is set to 120 to 180° C. The constant temperature treatment is normally performed at the temperature rise final temperature.

Abstract: A flat spring hose clamp having an improved resistance to brittle fracture and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, the hose clamp being made of a steel having a steel composition consisting essentially of, by weight %:C:0.30-0.70%,Si: 0.70% or less,Mn: 0.05-1.00%,P: 0.030% or less,S: 0.020% or less,Cr: 0.50-2.00%,Mo: 0.10-0.50%,Nb: 0.005-0.100%,sol. Al: 0.10% or less,N: more than 0.0020%, but not more than 0.015%,Ti: 0-0.10% and/or B: 0-0.0020%,and a balance of Fe and incidental impurities, and the steel possessing a uniform bainite structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin steel sheet of high carbon steel which has a high level of strength and exhibits excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement after heat treatment is disclosed. The steel consists essentially of, by weight %:C: 0.30-0.70%,Si: 0.10-0.70%,Mn: 0.05-1.00%,P: not greater than 0.030%,S: not greater than 0.020%,Cr: 0.50-2.00%,Mo: 0.10-0.50%,Ti: 0.005-0.10%,Nb: 0.005-0.100%,sol. Al: not greater than 0.10%,N: greater than 0.0020%, but not greater than 0.015%,optionally B: 0.0005-0.0020%, anda balance of iron and incidental impurities, the method comprising the steps of:hot rolling a steel having the above defined chemical composition with a finishing temperature of 800.degree. C. or higher;immediately after finishing the hot rolling cooling the hot rolled steel at a cooling rate of 5.degree.-40.degree. C./second to a temperature range of 500.degree.-700.degree. C.; andcoiling the hot rolled steel at a temperature of 450.degree.-650.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of producing a cold-rolled steel sheet having improved press-formability without employing hot rolling is disclosed. The method comprises preparing a molten steel having the following chemical composition:C: 0.001-0.015%,Mn: 0.01-1.20%,sol.Al: not more than 0.10%N: not more than 0.0060%,at least one element selected from the group consisting ofTi: not more than 0.20%,Nb: not more than 0.20% andZr: not more than 0.20%,and the balance iron and incidental impurities, with the following Formulas being satisfied:Ti-equivalent=Ti(%)+48/93 Nb(%)+48/91 Zr(%) (1)C-equivalent=C (%)+12/14 N (%) (2)(C-equivalent)-1/4 (Ti-equivalent).ltoreq.0.0010(%) (3),rapidly cooling the thus prepared molten steel to continuously produce a thin cast plate, coiling the thus produced plate at a temperature of 500.degree.-800.degree. C., and applying cold rolling and then recrystallization annealing to the cast plate after uncoiling.

Abstract: A method of producing a cold rolled steel strip having improved press formability and bake-hardenability is disclosed. The steel consists essentially of:C: 0.003-0.150%,Si: not more than 1.50%,Mn: 0.03-0.25%,P: 0.03-0.20%,sol. Al: 0.02-0.15%,N: 0.002-0.015%,balance being iron and incidental impurities.The method comprises hot rolling, pickling, cold rolling, then passing the resulting steel strip to a box annealing furnace in which the steel strip is subjected to recrystallization annealing by heating it at a temperature lower than 760.degree. C. but higher than the recrystallization temperature of the steel in a steel composition area comprised of a single phase of ferrite or a dual phase of ferrite plus austenite in the Fe-C binary phase diagram and cooling it in the temperature range of from 500.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. at an average cooling rate of 10.degree.-250.degree. C./hr, and then temper rolling the annealed steel strip.