Abstract: Continuous hot dip aluminum coated ferritic chromium alloy steel strip. Strip is cleaned by heating to a temperature no greater than about 650.degree. C. in a direct fired furnace. The cleaned strip is further heated in a protective atmosphere containing at least 95% by volume hydrogen, cooled in the protective hydrogen atmosphere to near or slightly above the melting point of an aluminum coating metal, and passed into a bath of the aluminum coating metal. The low direct fired furnace cleaning temperature and hydrogen protective atmosphere provides good wetting of a chromium alloy steel surface to prevent uncoated areas or pin holes in the aluminum coated layer.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed therefrom. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one of a plurality of adjacent sheets and a wax is applied along the longitudinal edges of a facing surface of at least one of the sheets. The sheets are combined into a laminate by being passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil from between the facing surfaces and to spread the wax thereby forming a continuous seal along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. Air between the facing surfaces is displaced by the oil and the wax forms the seal to prevent reentry of the air and seepage of the oil along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: Galvannealed electroplated steel strip. The strip is heated to an alloying temperature of at least about 427.degree. C. using an induction coil operated at a frequency to produce an eddy current penetration depth of one-half the strip thickness. The diffusion temperature and time are controlled to minimize the formation of brittle gamma alloy phases in the zinc/iron alloy coating.

Abstract: Permanent domain refinement of grain oriented electrical steel strip is obtained in a high speed two-stage process. The process removes the glass in narrow regions which just expose the base metal. An electrolytic etch is then used to deepen the region into the base metal and minimize damage to the remaining glass film. Control of acid concentration and temperature in the electrolytic bath allows a greater increase in productivity. A further feature of the process is the use of permeability measurements to optimize the depth of the etched regions. The improved core loss produced by the process will survive a stress relief anneal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing permanent domain refinement continuously and at very high line speeds in grain oriented electrical steel having an aluminum nitride inhibitor system. After the final high temperature anneal, the glass film and insulative coating on the surface is removed in narrow bands (grooves or rows of spots). The steel is electroetched to increase the depth of the bands, coated with aluminum by electrophoresis and given a stress relief anneal to bond the aluminum coating to the base metal by diffusion. A localized stress field is induced during cooling which causes domain refinement due to the differential thermal contraction between the aluminum and the base metal.

Abstract: Spliced structural members for supporting a traffic deck on a short span bridge. A spliced structural member includes a plurality of metal box-shaped girder segments placed end to end and splice channels nested around the adjacent ends of the girder segments. A spliced joint is formed by connecting the splice channels to the adjacent ends of the girder segments. The spliced joint has at least 75% of the flexural and shear strength of the girder segments and provides continuity for structural strength and rigidity for the spliced structural member.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed thereof. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one a plurality of adjacent laminations. The laminations are passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil between the facing surfaces. The air between the facing surfaces is displaced and the remaining oil forms a seal to prevent reentry of the air. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: A process for making a boron alloy from a ferrous or non-ferrous melt by adding a boron compound to the melt and reducing the compound within the melt by a reductant, such as aluminum, silicon or carbon, such that the boron can alloy with the melt. A boron alloy containing from very little boron up to 15% boron by weight can be formed. At least 40% of the boron compound is reduced to boron.The alloy can also be employed to make an amorphous material by discharging the molten alloy onto a moving surface to form a strip. The moving surface is a chill body which can quench the strip at a rate of at least from 10.sup.4 .degree. C./sec, or higher to solidify the strip and form an amorphous boron alloy material.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating the top surface of a high speed metal sheet with a thin film of lubricant having a uniform thickness. The apparatus includes a header assembly positioned above the moving sheet, a plurality of spray nozzles inclined at an angle relative to the oncoming sheet, and a solenoid operated valve to control flow of lubricant through each of the spray nozzles. The orifice of each nozzle is sized to produce a mist. The angle of inclination of the spray nozzles is sufficiently large so that the mist is generally sprayed above rather than toward the sheet. The method includes selecting a specific spray nozzle arrangement and adjusting the header assembly so that the span of the mist corresponds to the width of the metal sheet. An extremely thin and uniform thickness of lubricant film is formed on the sheet as the particles of mist settle onto the sheet. Waste of lubricant is minimized.

Abstract: Oriented silicon steel is heated in a slab furnace at temperatures above 1260.degree. C. prior to hot rolling. The slab surfaces in the furnace are exposed to molten slag, variable atmosphere conditions and refractory interaction from the hearth. The slab surface prior to hot rolling has a major importance for cold rolling and the quality of the glass film.A rapid oxidation treatement of the slab just prior to the scale breaker or first rolling stand corrects a silicon-free iron layer condition which causes streaks in the glass film. The oxidation treatment blows gas having at least 30% oxygen for a sufficient time and velocity to provide a surface which will develop a continuous fayalite layer in subsequent processing and provide for the formation of a continuous glass film.

Abstract: Ultra-rapid annealing of grain oriented electrical steel to a temperature prior to the final high temperature anneal results in improved texture and smaller secondary grain size. The ultra-rapid anneal requires heating the strip to a temperature above about 675.degree. C. (1250.degree. F.) at a rate above 100.degree. C. per second (180.degree. F. per second). The ultra-rapid anneal is performed after the first stage of cold rolling and prior to or as part of the decarburization anneal. The material will survive a subsequent stress relief anneal and may be further improved by various domain treatments. The ultra-rapid anneal increases productivity and procedures improved core loss properties.

Abstract: Ultra-rapid annealing of nonoriented electrical steel is conducted at a rate above 100.degree. C. per second on prior to or as part of the strip decarburization and/or annealing process to provide an improved texture and, thereby, improved permeability and reduced core loss. During the ultra-rapid heating of cold-rolled strip, the recrystallization texture is enhanced by more preferential nucleation of {100}<uvw> and {110}<uvw> oriented crystals and reduced formation of {111}<uvw> oriented crystals. The preferred practice has a heating rate above 262.degree. C. per second to a peak temperature between 750.degree. C. and 1150.degree. C. and held at temperature for 0 to 5 minutes.

Abstract: Portable inspection apparatus for determining the actual remaining thickness of the lining of a BOF vessel. The apparatus is mounted on a portable cart which can be wheeled into close proximity with the open top of a horizontally disposed furnace vessel. A laser transmitter directs a laser light beam toward the furnace lining. The light beam scattered from the vessel lining is received by a self-scanned linear array and correlated by means of a computer to provide a graphical representation of actual remaining lining thickness.Pneumatically operated locating members cooperate with positioning pads in the floor adjacent the vessel to accurately and repeatably position the cart with respect to the furnace coordinates. The inspection apparatus is also provided with computer processing to automatically scan a preselected area of the vessel lining less than the entire area in order to monitor lining locations of high potential wear.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed thereof. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one of a plurality of adjacent laminations. The laminations are passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil between the facing surfaces. The air between the facing surfaces is displaced and the remaining oil forms a seal to prevent reentry of the air. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: Continuously hot dip aluminum coated ferritic chromium alloy steel strip. After the steel has been given a pretreatment to remove surface contaminants, the steel is protected in a hydrogen atmosphere until it is passed into the molten aluminum coating metal. The coating metal readily wets the steel surface to prevent uncoated areas or pin holes in the coating layer.

Abstract: A method of fluidizing a cold lime-silica slag covering a molten metal. An acid flux is prepared from a particulate admixture of sodium fluoroaluminate and sodium silicate. The flux is mixed with the cold slag forming a fluid slag having at least 1% by weight F- and at least 1% by weight Na.sub.2 O. The treated slag has a reduced melting point allowing it to be mechanically skimmed from the molten metal and has a high sulfur capacity.

Abstract: A carbon or alloy steel heat treated grinding rod having improved wear resistance and breaking resistance for use in a rotating grinding mill. The surface of the rod has a martensitic microstructure having a hardness of at least HRC 55. The core of the rod has a bainitic microstructure having a hardness of at least HRC 40. A preferred rod composition includes at least 0.7% carbon, at least 0.25% of molybdenum, at least 0.25% chromium, less than 0.7% manganese, the balance iron and unavoidable impurities, all percentages by weight.

Abstract: A duplex stainless steel which is economical and balanced to provide a good combination of properties in the as-cast condition and resists thermal transformation to martensite due the high levels of manganese. This steel is particularly suited for thin-walled castings for automotive underbody components. It is 30% to 60% ferrite and balance austenite and, in weight percent, consists essentially of:C - up to 0.07,Cr - 17 to 21.5,Ni - greater than 1 to less than 4,Mn - greater than 4 to 8,N - 0.05 to 0.15,Si - less than 2,Mo - less than 2,Cu - less than 1.5 and balance essentially Fe.

Abstract: Producing one-side zinc electroplated strip having enhanced phosphating characteristics. Prior to electroplating, the non-electroplated side of the steel strip is cathodically pickled. Cathodic pickling minimizes staining and etching to the non-electroplated strip surface by the zinc electrolyte during electroplating of the opposite strip surface.

Abstract: Producing one-side zinc electroplated strip having enhanced phosphating characteristics. Prior to electroplating, the non-electroplated side of the steel strip is cathodically pickled. Cathodic pickling minimizes staining and etching to the non-electroplated strip surface by the zinc electrolyte during electroplating of the opposite strip surface.