Abstract: A method for continuous casting of thin slabs may involve feeding a molten metal into a mold, molding a partially solidified thin-slab strand from the molten metal in the mold, reducing a flow rate of the molten metal in the partially solidified thin-slab strand by way of an electromagnetic brake positioned in a region of the mold, and removing the partially solidified thin-slab strand from the mold by way of a strand guiding system. Unsolidified parts of the partially solidified thin-slab strand may be stirred by an electromagnetic stirrer arranged underneath the mold downstream along a strand takeoff direction of the thin-slab strand. Further, a traveling electromagnetic field may be produced by the electromagnetic stirrer in a region of the thin-slab strand that is at a distance from the mold of between 20 and 7000 millimeters along the strand takeoff direction.

Abstract: A method of activating a metal surface, such as a galvanized steel sheet, before a phosphating process, may involve bringing the metal surface into contact with an activating bath containing activating particles, which may be based on phosphate and/or titanium, dispersed in water. To alleviate or even eliminate the problems of poor adhesion of surface coatings to preferably electrolytically galvanized, phosphated metal strip, an additive that suppresses or at least slows agglomeration of the activating particles may be added to the activating bath. In some examples, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or sodium stearate may be added. Further, the particle size distribution of the activating particles present in the activating bath may be determined and the activating bath may be replaced or taken out of operation as a function of the particle size distribution of the activating particles.

Abstract: A hot-forming apparatus may be used to produce a press-hardened shaped component from a blank. The hot-forming apparatus may include a furnace for heating the blank and a pressing device for forming and cooling the blank heated in the furnace. The hot-forming apparatus also includes, upstream of the furnace, a preheating roll truing device with a temperature-controllable roller for straightening and preheating the blank. A corresponding method may be used to produce the press-hardened shaped component from the blank.

Abstract: A method for determining the wear properties of coated flat products such as galvannealed flat steel products is provided herein. In order to be able to achieve better comparability of the determined wear properties of different flat products at least one bending parameter for the bending of the particular flat product by a bending device is selected in accordance with defined criteria on the basis of information regarding the thickness and/or the strength of the particular flat products to be bent. The flat products are bent in the bending device in accordance with the selected bending parameters, wear thus being produced. The wear properties are analyzed in a predetermined manner on the basis of the wear of the particular flat products.

Abstract: A device for producing a strip-shaped composite sheet may comprise at least two outer metal cover sheets and at least one plastic layer disposed between the two outer metal cover sheets. The device may further comprise at least one first laminating device for laminating the metal cover sheets with the at least one plastic layer arranged between the metal cover sheets, with the first laminating device comprising at least two laminating rolls forming a laminating gap. One object of the present disclosure is to provide methods and devices for producing composite sheets, with which the economy, in particular the production speed, of the production method can be significantly increased and at the same time the risk of delamination of the composite sheets during the further processing can be reduced.

Abstract: A method for the surface treatment of a metal workpiece, in particular of a coated metal workpiece, for hot forming includes partially or completely heating the workpieces to a temperature of at least Ac1, cleaning at least one surface of the heated workpiece with at least one pressurized air jet, forming the heated and cleaned workpiece, and cooling down the formed workpiece.

Abstract: Devices and methods for producing sandwich composite materials having at least one layer of plastic disposed between at least two outer metallic covering layers may comprise providing at least two semifinished products coated with plastic on one side, activating at least one of the plastic-coated sides of the metallic covering layers directly from the side of the covering layer having the plastic-coating, and connecting the plastic-coated sides of the metallic covering layers to form the sandwich composite material. The activation of the plastic may be performed by way of a heat source that utilizes an activation medium, radiation, or plasma, for example.

Abstract: Methods for producing a flat product from an iron-based shape memory alloy may involve casting a melt comprised of iron, alloying elements, and impurities into a strip having a thickness of 1-30 mm and cooling the melt as the strip is formed. A twin-roll caster may be employed to help cool and form the melt into the strip. The resultant flat product is highly resistant to bending and is robust under pressure and torsion.

Abstract: A method for producing a cold-rolled steel strip with a yield ratio Re/Rm of at least 0.7, the cold-rolled steel product including iron, unavoidable impurities and (in wt. %) C: 0.05-0.20%, Si: 0.25-1.00%, Mn: 1.0-3.0%, Al: 0.02-1.5%, Cr: 0.1-1.5%, N: <0.02%, P: <0.03%, S: <0.05% and optionally one or more of Ti, Mo, Nb, V, and B, Ti: up to 0.15%, Mo: <2%, Nb: <0.1%, V: <0.12%, and B: 0.0005-0.003%. The cold-rolled flat steel product undergoes heat treatment for 4.5-24 hours at a temperature of 150-400° C. Also, a cold rolled flat steel product discussed above having a structure including at least two phases, selected from (in vol. %) at least 10% tempered martensite, <10% bainite, <10% residual austenite and remainder ferrite, a yield ratio of at least 0.7, a tensile strength of ?750 MPa and a hole expansion of at least 18%.

Abstract: A tool may be used to shape and/or partially press harden a workpiece. In some examples, the tool may comprise a main body having a surface, as well as a heat conducting system containing a thermal medium. The heat conducting system is integrated in the tool in such a way that, for the heating of the surface, a heat radiating from a heat source is conducted by means of the heat conducting system to the surface of the main body. Further, the heat conducting system may comprise a thermal oil or a melt as the thermal medium. The surface of the main body may be configured to face the workpiece during the shaping or partial press hardening of the workpiece.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel for motor vehicles may include a wheel-rim ring with an opening, a main member positioned at least partially in the opening of the wheel-rim ring, and a covering shell for at least partially covering the main member. The main member may include an attachment region with receptacles for attaching the main member and the wheel-rim ring to a vehicle. The wheel is configured to have a low weight and an adequate stiffness. Moreover, the wheel also exhibits a secure attachment and no pre-load losses while permitting a high degree of design flexibility. In some examples, the attachment region of the main member is free from the covering shell by way of, for example, a cut-out in the covering shell.

Abstract: A reflector for helio-thermal systems may include a metallic carrier plate and a reflective coating that is applied to the carrier plate and is constructed from at least one metallic reflective layer and at least one protective layer applied to the reflective layer. Such reflectors have high reflective capabilities, are robust in relation to mechanical stress, and can be manufactured cost effectively. Such reflectors are also lightweight and dimensionally stable due to the fact that the carrier plate may be formed from a sandwich plate having at least one nonmetallic intermediate layer disposed between an upper and lower metallic cover plate. The upper cover plate may have a smoothed surface to which the reflective layer can be applied. The smoothed surface prior to the reflective layer being applied may have an arithmetic mean surface parameter Ra of less than 0.03 ?m. Methods for manufacturing such reflectors are also disclosed.

Abstract: One example method for producing a component from organic sheets may comprise placing a first organic sheet and a second organic sheet next to one another to form a component preform, forming at least one overlapping joining zone by tacking the first and second organic sheets together with a connecting part in the form of a third organic sheet, transferring the component preform to a joining tool, using the joining tool to form a joined component by connecting the organic sheets through melting and compression in the overlapping joining zone, and consolidating the joined component at least in the zone of the overlapping joining zone.

Abstract: Methods for producing connecting or junction elements, which in some cases may be utilized in steel structures of towers for wind turbines, may involve using a flow forming process to produce which a flange and a casing integrally adjoining the flange from a blank. Further, an end of the casing opposite the flange may be adapted to a contour of a component to which the casing is intended to be connected. In some examples, the casing may be formed with a second flange. Likewise, in some examples, at least a portion of the casing may have a conical design.

Abstract: A method may be used to produce a connecting element for transmitting rotational movements, wherein the connecting element has a joint outer part or flange and a connecting pin. The object of providing a method for producing a connecting element with a joint outer part or flange and a connecting pin, with which method weight-optimized connecting elements can be produced in a simple manner, is achieved in that a round-plate-like or tubular blank is deformed by flow forming or flow turning to form the connecting element.

Abstract: A method can be used to produce a component from a sandwich material in sheet or strip form, which sandwich material comprises at least two metallic surface layers and a plastic layer disposed between the metallic surface layers. The method may involve at least partially heating the sandwich material along an edge region to soften the plastic in the edge region. The plastic may then be substantially completely displaced out of the edge region by exerting a force on at least one of the metallic surface layers. In this way a plastic-free edge region is produced in which the metallic surface layers are in contact in sub-regions or at points. Further, a component comprised of a sandwich material may include at least two metallic surface layers and a plastic layer disposed between the metallic surface layers. The sandwich material may have, at least along one edge, a plastic-free region in which the metallic surface layers are in contact in sub-regions or at points.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cold-rolled flat steel product which, despite high strength values, has a high level of deformability characterized by a high elongation at break and a good hole expansion ratio ?M. For this purpose the flat steel product is produced from a steel that is composed of (in % by weight) C: 0.12-0.19%, Mn: 1.5-2.5%, Si: >0.60-1.0%, Al: ?0.1%, Cr: 0.2-0.6%, Ti: 0.05-0.15% with the remainder being iron and unavoidable impurities caused by the production process, and which comprises a perlite- and bainite-free structure having 4-20% by vol. martensite, 2-15% by vol. residual austenite, remainder ferrite, an elongation at break A80 of at least 15%, a tensile strength Rm of at least 880 MPa, a yield strength ReL of at least 550 MPa and a hole expansion ratio ?M of more than 6%. The invention also relates to a method which easily enables production of a flat steel product according to the invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to production lines and methods for hot rolling steel strips. Example production lines may include a hot rolling line that comprises a plurality of rolling stands through which a steel strip passes in a conveying direction. The production line may also include a cooling section for intensively cooling the steel strip as the steel strip exits a final rolling stand of the rolling line. The steel strips may be deformed so as to have a thickness of more than 15 mm and to comply with the most stringent requirements with respect to, for example, toughness. Further, at least a portion of the cooling section may overlap with a portion of the hot rolling line.

Abstract: A roller for deflecting or guiding a metal strip to be coated in a metal melt bath may include bearing journals disposed coaxially with one another for rotationally supporting the roller. To obtain a high coating quality while hot-dip coating the metal strip, in particular steel strip, and to increase the service life of such a roller, each bearing journal may comprise a plurality of axially spaced annular elevations that have or are formed from a plain-bearing coating. The roller may comprise a steel roller shell, and each bearing journal may include a substantially cylindrical or circular-disk-shaped connecting steel portion that extends radially in the direction of the roller shell. At least one of the connecting portions may comprise a passage opening at an end face of the roller shell. The passage may be closed by means of a gas-permeable plug element comprised of ceramic material.

Abstract: A process for producing a three-dimensionally shaped steel component from a steel sheet with a metallic coating may involve hot forming the steel sheet into the steel component. The metallic coating may involve an Fe—Al-based alloy. To protect the steel sheet or the steel component against scale formation, the Fe—Al-based alloy may be applied directly to the steel sheet by galvanic coating and/or physical vapor deposition. The coating produced in this way may contain 30-60% by weight Fe, a balance of Al, and, in some cases, 0.1-10% by weight Mg, 0.1-5% by weight Ti, 0.1-10% by weight Si, 0.1-10% by weight Li, and/or 0.1-10% by weight Ca. Before heating the coated steel sheet as part of the hot forming process, the coated steel sheet may have an Fe—Al phase is stable to above 900° C.