Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing hot rolled steel products having high strength and ductility. The method is particularly suitable for low alloy structural steels which contain about 0.02 to 0.15 wt. % C and 0.100 to about 0.015% Nb, the higher Nb percentage being used for steels with the lower C content and vice versa. In the method, the steel is heated to a temperature of about 1150.degree. to about 1250.degree. C. The steel is then rolled during a first sequence of passes so that the average austenite grain size at the end of the first sequence stays below about 50 um and so that the last pass in this sequence is conducted within the temperature range of about 950.degree. to 1100.degree. C. In a second rolling sequence directly following the first sequence, the rolling is continued with further reductions that do not exceed about 15% in each pass. Subsequently, the steel may be cooled to ambient temperature in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A steel strip displaying high strength and formability properties is fabricated by coiling a steel strip which has been previously processed through a hot-strip mill from an initial steel having a very low amount of alloying compounds and having a temperature of between 750.degree. and 900.degree. C., the coiled steel strip being maintained at a temperature of between 800.degree. and 650.degree. C. for a period of at least one minute, and thereafter cooled to a temperature of below 450.degree. C., the cooling being accomplished at a rate exceeding 10.degree. C./second.