Abstract: The invention relates to a process for improving the cold formability of hot rolled or cold rolled heat-treatable steels.The characterizing feature of the invention is that with a composition of (in % by weight)0.32-0.54% C0.05-0.40% Mn0.41-1.5% Si0.02-0.15% Almaximum 0.05% Crmaximum 0.05% Smaximum 0.03% Pmaximum 0.02% Nresidue iron and unavoidable impuritiesprior to the final cold forming and quench hardening with subsequent tempering is performed for at least 15 hours at temperatures between 620.degree. and 680.degree. C. to graphitization, while with a composition of0.55-1.3% C0.20-0.30% Mn0.41-0.90% Si0.02-0.15% Almaximum 0.05% Crmaximum 0.010% Smaximum 0.03% Pmaximum 0.02% Nresidue iron and unavoidable impuritiessaid annealing lasts for at least 8 hours.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing hot rolled strip having tensile strength values of Rm=500 to 780 N/mm.sup.2 from unalloyed or low-alloy steels with 0.3 to 0.9% C. A steel slab is austenitized and rolled into hot rolled strip which is cooled on a run-out table and then coiled.The characterizing feature of the invention is that the hot rolling and the cooling of the strip on the run-out table are performed in such a manner that the austenite/ferrite transformation in the hot rolled strip starts only in the coil and is finished in the coil.

Abstract: A continuously cast steel consisting of0.32 to 1.0% carbon0.20 to 3.0% manganese,up to 2.0% silicon,max. 0.05% phosphorus,max. 0.05% sulphur,0.002 to 0.008% nitrogen,0.015 to 0.08% zirconium,0.010 to 0.10% aluminium,up to 3.5% chromium,up to 3.5% nickel andup to 0.5% molybdenumrest iron and unavoidable impurities, wherein the zirconium: nitrogen ratio being 7:1 to 10:1 and the austenite grain size being ASTM 6 or a smaller grain size number.