Abstract: A hot-rolled austenitic iron/carbon/manganese steel sheet, the strength of which is greater than 1200 MPa, the product P (strength (in MPa)×elongation at break (in %)) of which is greater than 65 000 MPa % and the nominal chemical composition of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.85%?C?1.05%; 16%?Mn?19%; Si?2%; Al?0.050%; S?0.030%; P?0.050%; N?0.1%, and, optionally, one or more elements chosen from: Cr?1%; Mo?0.40%; Ni?1%; Cu?5%; Ti?0.50%; Nb?0.50%; V?0.50%, the rest of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting, the recrystallized surface fraction of said steel being equal to 100%, the surface fraction of precipitated carbides of said steel being equal to 0% and the mean grain size of said steel being less than or equal to 10 microns.

Abstract: A hot-rolled austenitic iron/carbon/manganese steel sheet, the strength of which is greater than 1200 MPa, the product P (strength (in MPa)×elongation at break (in %)) of which is greater than 65 000 MPa % and the nominal chemical composition of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.85%?C?1.05%; 16%?Mn?19%; Si?2%; Al?0.050%; S?0.030%; P?0.050%; N?0.1%, and, optionally, one or more elements chosen from: Cr?1%; Mo?0.40%; Ni?1%; Cu?5%; Ti?0.50%; Nb?0.50%; V?0.50%, the rest of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting, the recrystallized surface fraction of said steel being equal to 100%, the surface fraction of precipitated carbides of said steel being equal to 0% and the mean grain size of said steel being less than or equal to 10 microns.

Abstract: A vacuum treatment of cast metal in liquid form employing the steps of: introducing the cast metal in liquid form into a metallurgic ladle; filling the ladle until a guard height ranging between 0.4 and 0.6 m is reached; and treating the metal while bringing the atmosphere above the ladle under vacuum, and simultaneously stirring the cast metal by injecting helium into the base of the ladle during part of or the whole treatment.

Abstract: A vacuum treatment of cast metal in liquid form employing the steps of: introducing the cast metal in liquid form into a metallurgic ladle; filling the ladle until a guard height ranging between 0.4 and 0.6 m is reached; and treating the metal while bringing the atmosphere above the ladle under vacuum, and simultaneously stirring the cast metal by injecting helium into the base of the ladle during part of or the whole treatment.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for the continuous casting of very small-diameter wires directly from liquid metal, according to which said liquid metal is made to flow out of a heated and pressurized container made of refractory material, forming a jet of liquid. metal having a diameter equal to or slightly greater than that of the wire to be cast, and said jet is made to solidify by making it penetrate into a layer of moving cooling liquid deposited on the internal wall of a drum rotating about a horizontal axis, wherein said container is fed, continuously or intermittently, with solid metal without interrupting casting and wherein said solid metal is melted inside said container.The subject of the invention is also a device for the continuous casting of very small-diameter wires directly from liquid metal, allowing this process to be implemented.