Abstract: Ferritic stainless steel, comprising the following Chemical elements expressed in percentage by weight: —Cr 14.0-20.0 —Al 0.50-1.50 —Zr 0.10-0.50 —Si 0.30-1.50 —Ti 0.10-0.35 —Nb 0.25-0.55 —C<0.035 —N<0.035 provided that the content of Ti, Nb, C and N satisfy the following relation: %Ti+%Nb/1.94>9 (%C+%N) and substantially iron q. s. to 100. This steel may also comprise Yttrium and/or rare earth elements in a percentage by weight comprised in the range 0.10-0.30. The invention also encompasses products manufacturable with the steel of the invention, in particular vehicle exhaust manifold systems. Figure (I) shows a cyclic oxidation test carried out at 1000° C. on samples having the composition of an embodiment of the steel according to the invention.

Abstract: In the thermal treatment of continuous-cast or hot-rolled steel strip, by using particular solutions regarding the choice of the strip rolling temperatures, the transfer times from the coiler to the furnace, as well as specific process steps in annealing, it is possible to treat any type of steel by sending the coils of strip, still at a high temperature, directly to the annealing furnace, at the same time maintaining the mechanical and microstructural characteristics obtainable in traditional cold-strip annealing.