Abstract: Disclosed is an improved anti-ballistic impact resistant protective material including a combination of at least a fronting material and a hard backing material wherein the fronting material is measured to be at least 25% softer in the Brinell scale than the hard backing material and methods of fabrication techniques, thicknesses, densities, areal density, localized placement of constituent materials, and temporal processing, thereby yielding a superior protective combination increasing the impact threat resistive performance at an aggregate areal density lower than the mass increase that would have been required by simply increasing the thickness of the harder backing material alone to achieve increased threat resistive performance. Further, a hardened iron based alloy in excess of 535 Brinell that performs with a bulge, crack, petal failure mechanism is disclosed.

Abstract: Iron-based alloys and articles in strips, sheets, workpieces and the like are converted into high strength steel with a minimum of cost, time and effort, including producing dual phase materials. This is achievable by extremely rapid micro-treating of low, medium, and high carbon iron-based alloys and articles by rapid heating and rapid cooling at least a portion of the alloy/article. This heating step involves nearly immediately heating the iron-based alloy to a selected temperature above its austenite conversion temperature. Then, the alloy is immediately quenched, also at an extremely fast rate, on at least a portion of the iron-based alloy in a quenching unit adjacent the heating unit. This procedure forms high strength alloy in a desired area, depending upon where the treatment was performed.

Abstract: Iron-based alloys and articles in strips, sheets, workpieces and the like are converted into high strength steel with a minimum of cost, time and effort, including producing dual phase materials. This is achievable by extremely rapid micro-treating of low, medium, and high carbon iron-based alloys and articles by rapid heating and rapid cooling at least a portion of the alloy/article. This heating step involves nearly immediately heating the iron-based alloy to a selected temperature above its austenite conversion temperature. Then, the alloy is immediately quenched, also at an extremely fast rate, on at least a portion of the iron-based alloy in a quenching unit adjacent the heating unit. This procedure forms high strength alloy in a desired area, depending upon where the treatment was performed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for Flash Process heat treating lean alloyed steels in strips, sheets, bars, plates, wires, tubes, profiles, work pieces and the like which are converted into multi-phase, multi chemistry armor and advanced high strength steel produced with a minimum of cost, time and effort. The resulting material is a high performance armor with the ability to prevent penetration by a 0.30-caliber M2 armor piercing bullet shot at a 30 degree obliquity, from perpendicular to the plate. Stopping velocity of 2232 feet per second.

Abstract: Iron-based alloys and articles in strips, sheets, workpieces and the like are converted into high strength steel with a minimum of cost, time and effort, including producing dual phase materials. This is achievable by extremely rapid micro-treating of low, medium, and high carbon iron-based alloys and articles by rapid heating and rapid cooling at least a portion of the alloy/article. This heating step involves nearly immediately heating the iron-based alloy to a selected temperature above its austenite conversion temperature. Then, the alloy is immediately quenched, also at an extremely fast rate, on at least a portion of the iron-based alloy in a quenching unit adjacent the heating unit. This procedure forms high strength alloy in a desired area, depending upon where the treatment was performed.

Abstract: Iron-based alloys and articles in strips, sheets, workpieces and the like are converted into high strength steel with a minimum of cost, time and effort, including producing dual phase materials. This is achievable by extremely rapid micro-treating of low, medium, and high carbon iron-based alloys and articles by rapid heating and rapid cooling at least a portion of the alloy/article. This heating step involves nearly immediately heating the iron-based alloy to a selected temperature above its austenite conversion temperature. Then, the alloy is immediately quenched, also at an extremely fast rate, on at least a portion of the iron-based alloy in a quenching unit adjacent the heating unit. This procedure forms high strength alloy in a desired area, depending upon where the treatment was performed.

Abstract: Widmanstatten structures in a new iron based alloy having an austenization conversion temperature forms various austenite daughter phases in the iron based alloy when it is prepared by heating said alloy above the austenization conversion temperature followed by substantially immediately quenching and extremely rapid cooling the alloy below the austenization conversion temperature. In one aspect, methods and materials made by optionally initially spheroidized annealing of raw iron based alloys into a precursor material are disclosed. After optional spheroidized annealing, the precursor material is rapidly heated to a temperature above the austenitizing temperature of the material and rapidly cooled to yield a high strength iron based alloy. Methods and materials for realizing a corrosion resistant high strength iron based alloy are disclosed, as are methods, materials and articles which exhibit the ability to form bend radii of nearly folding over itself.

Abstract: A new iron based alloy prepared by extremely rapid heating followed substantially immediately by extremely rapid cooling. Methods and materials made by optionally initially spheroidized annealing of raw iron based alloys into a precursor material are disclosed. After optional spheroidized annealing, the precursor material is rapidly heated to a temperature above the austenitizing temperature of the material and rapidly cooled to yield a high strength iron based alloy. Methods and materials for realizing a corrosion resistant high strength iron based alloy are disclosed, as are methods, materials and articles which exhibit the ability to form bend radii of nearly folding over itself.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for micro-treating iron-based alloys to transform and/or shape them and the resulting materials obtained by treating low, medium, and high carbon steel and other iron-based alloys to form at least a mixed microstructure that may contain martensite, bainite and un-dissolved carbides, and may also contain complex steel microstructures including portions of bainite, coalesced bainite, acicular ferrite, retained austenite and/or martensite along with combinations thereof by micro-treating said iron based alloy.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process and apparatus for micro-treating an iron-based alloy including heating and immediately quenching to room temperature to produce high tensile iron-based alloy with varying thicknesses. The process may or may not be practiced with or without tension, under various controllable tensions in order to create desirable effects. The micro-treated iron-based alloy contains desirable bainite to increase its formability and tensile strength. The varying thickness of the iron-based alloys is desirable for different applications, such as forming automobile panels.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process and apparatus for micro-treating an iron-based alloy including heating and immediately quenching to room temperature to produce high tensile iron-based alloy with varying thicknesses. The process may or may not be practiced with or without tension under various controllable tensions in order to create desirable effects The micro-treated iron-based alloy contains desirable bainite to increase its formability and tensile strength. The varying thickness of the iron-based alloys is desirable for different applications, such as forming automobile panels.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-phase transformation of an iron and carbon-containing alloy. While the phenomena for this cooling transformation are not fully understood, multiple theories are present. The first theory is that since the alloy is rapidly heated and carbon leveling has not occurred, carbon enriched areas transform to a first phase, perhaps martensite, while lesser carbon areas may transform to a second phase, perhaps bainite. Thus a dual phase alloy is produced.

Abstract: Iron-based alloys and articles in strips, sheets, workpieces and the like are converted into high strength steel with a minimum of cost, time and effort, including producing dual phase materials. This is achievable by extremely rapid micro-treating of low, medium, and high carbon iron-based alloys and articles by rapid heating and rapid cooling at least a portion of the alloy/article. This heating step involves nearly immediately heating the iron-based alloy to a selected temperature above its austenite conversion temperature. Then, the alloy is immediately quenched, also at an extremely fast rate, on at least a portion of the iron-based alloy in a quenching unit adjacent the heating unit. This procedure forms high strength alloy in a desired area, depending upon where the treatment was performed.