Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro Seto

Kazuhiro Seto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180127847
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, in area ratio, 35% or more and 80% or less of polygonal ferrite and 5% or more and 25% or less of martensite, and that contains, in volume fraction, 8% or more of retained austenite, in which the polygonal ferrite, the martensite, and the retained austenite have a mean grain size of 6 ?m or less, 3 ?m or less, and 3 ?m or less, respectively, and each have a mean grain aspect ratio of 2.0 or less, and in which a value obtained by dividing an Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % by an Mn content in the polygonal ferrite in mass % equals 2.0 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Takako YAMASHITA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20180127846
    Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet with excellent formability and high yield ratio that has TS of 590 MPa or more and YR of 68% or more is obtained by providing a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, in area ratio, 35 to 80% of polygonal ferrite, 5% or more of non-recrystallized ferrite, and 5 to 25% of martensite, and that contains, in volume fraction, 8% or more of retained austenite, in which the polygonal ferrite has a mean grain size of 6 ?m or less, the martensite has a mean grain size of 3 ?m or less, the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 3 ?m or less, and a value obtained by dividing an Mn content in the retained austenite (in mass %) by an Mn content in the polygonal ferrite (in mass %) equals 2.0 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takako YAMASHITA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20180057916
    Abstract: A steel having a composition containing C: more than 0.20% and 0.45% or less, Si: 0.50% to 2.50%, Mn: 2.00% or more and less than 3.50%, and one or two selected from Ti: 0.005% to 0.100% and Nb: 0.005% to 0.100% is hot-rolled and cold-rolled. The steel sheet is heated to 800° C. to 950° C. and cooled to a cooling-end temperature of 350° C. to 500° C. at a cooling rate of 5° C./s or more to form a steel sheet having a microstructure including martensite and bainite phases such that the total proportion of the martensite and bainite phases is 80% or more by volume. The steel sheet is heated to 700° C. to 840° C. and maintained at 700° C. to 840° C., cooled to a cooling-end temperature of 350° C. to 500° C. at a cooling rate of 5 to 50° C./s, and maintained within the above temperature range for 10 to 1800 s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yoshie OBATA, Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Keiji UEDA, Shinjiro KANEKO, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20180023161
    Abstract: A steel sheet has a microstructure that contains ferrite in an area ratio of 20% or more, martensite in an area ratio of 5% or more, and tempered martensite in an area ratio of 5% or more. The ferrite has a mean grain size of 20.0 ?m or less. An inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber to ?-fiber in the ferrite is 1.00 or more and an inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber to ?-fiber in the martensite and the tempered martensite is 1.00 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu MINAMI, Shinjiro KANEKO, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20180023160
    Abstract: A steel sheet has a microstructure that contains ferrite in an area ratio of 20% or more, martensite in an area ratio of 5% or more, and tempered martensite in an area ratio of 5% or more. The ferrite has a mean grain size of 20.0 ?m or less. An inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber to ?-fiber in the ferrite is 1.00 or more and an inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber to ?-fiber in the martensite and the tempered martensite is 1.00 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu MINAMI, Shinjiro KANEKO, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20180016656
    Abstract: A steel sheet has a microstructure that contains ferrite in an area ratio of 20% or more, martensite in an area ratio of 5% or more, and tempered martensite in an area ratio of 5% or more. The ferrite has a mean grain size of 20.0 ?m or less. An inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber to ?-fiber in the ferrite is 1.00 or more and an inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber to ?-fiber in the martensite and the tempered martensite is 1.00 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu MINAMI, Shinjiro KANEKO, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170327919
    Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet with excellent formability and high yield ratio that has TS of 980 MPa or more and YR of 68% or more is obtained by providing a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, in area ratio, 15 to 55% of polygonal ferrite, 8% or more of non-recrystallized ferrite, and 15 to 30% of martensite, and that contains, in volume fraction, 12% or more of retained austenite, in which the polygonal ferrite has a mean grain size of 4 ?m or less, the martensite has a mean grain size of 2 ?m or less, the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 2 ?m or less, and a value obtained by dividing an Mn content in the retained austenite (in mass %) by an Mn content in the polygonal ferrite (in mass %) equals 2.0 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Takako YAMASHITA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170314091
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, in area ratio, 35% or more and 80% or less of polygonal ferrite and 5% or more and 25% or less of martensite, and that contains, in volume fraction, 8% or more of retained austenite, in which the polygonal ferrite, the martensite, and the retained austenite have a mean grain size of 6 ?m or less, 3 ?m or less, and 3 ?m or less, respectively, and each have a mean grain aspect ratio of 2.0 or less, and in which a value obtained by dividing an Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % by an Mn content in the polygonal ferrite in mass % equals 2.0 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Takako YAMASHITA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170306437
    Abstract: A high-strength hot-pressed part having a specified chemical composition, a microstructure including, in terms of volume fraction, 80% or more of a martensite phase, in a range of 3.0% to 20.0% of a retained austenite phase, a tensile strength TS of 1500 MPa or more, and a uniform elongation uEl of 6.0% or more. A method for manufacturing the high-strength hot-pressed part, the method comprising performing a heating process and a hot press forming process on a raw material steel sheet in order to obtain a hot-pressed part having a specified shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi NAKAGAWA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170306435
    Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet with excellent formability and high yield ratio that has TS of 590 MPa or more and YR of 68% or more is obtained by providing a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, in area ratio, 35 to 80% of polygonal ferrite, 5% or more of non-recrystallized ferrite, and 5 to 25% of martensite, and that contains, in volume fraction, 8% or more of retained austenite, in which the polygonal ferrite has a mean grain size of 6 ?m or less, the martensite has a mean grain size of 3 ?m or less, the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 3 ?m or less, and a value obtained by dividing an Mn content in the retained austenite (in mass %) by an Mn content in the polygonal ferrite (in mass %) equals 2.0 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takako YAMASHITA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170298482
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, in area ratio, 15% or more and 55% or less of polygonal ferrite and 15% or more and 30% or less of martensite, and that contains, in volume fraction, 12% or more of retained austenite, in which the polygonal ferrite, the martensite, and the retained austenite have a mean grain size of 4 ?m or less, 2 ?m or less, and 2 ?m or less, respectively, and each have a mean grain aspect ratio of 2.0 or less, and in which a value obtained by dividing an Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % by an Mn content in the polygonal ferrite in mass % equals 2.0 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Takako YAMASHITA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170218475
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising: preparing a steel slab with a predetermined chemical composition; subjecting the steel slab to hot rolling by heating it to a temperature of 1100-1300° C., hot rolling it with a finisher delivery temperature of 800-1000° C. to form a hot-rolled steel sheet, and coiling the steel sheet at a mean coiling temperature of 200-500° C.; subjecting the steel sheet to pickling treatment; and subjecting the steel sheet to annealing by retaining the steel sheet at a temperature of 740-840° C. for 10-900 s, then cooling the steel sheet at a mean cooling rate of 5-50° C./s to a cooling stop temperature of higher than 350° C. and 550° C. or lower, and retaining the steel sheet in a temperature range of higher than 350° C. to 550° C. for 10 s or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Yoshimasa FUNAKAWA, Kazuhiro SETO, Yukihiro MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20170218472
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength (TS) of 780 MPa or more and excellent in ductility, fatigue properties, stretch flangeability, surface characteristics, and sheet passage ability that can be obtained by providing a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, by area, 20-50% of ferrite, 5-25% of bainitic ferrite, 1-10% of martensite, and 5-15% of tempered martensite, and that contains, by volume, 10% or more of retained austenite, in which the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 2 ?m or less, a mean Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % is at least 1.2 times the Mn content in the steel sheet in mass %, the retained austenite has a mean free path of 1.2 ?m or less, and the tempered martensite has a mean free path of 1.2 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Kazunori TAHARA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kaneharu OKUDA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170211163
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength (TS) of 780 MPa or more and excellent in ductility, fatigue properties, balance between high strength and ductility, surface characteristics, and sheet passage ability that can be obtained by providing a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, by area, 20-50% of ferrite, 5-25% of bainitic ferrite, and 5-20% of martensite, and that contains, by volume, 10% or more of retained austenite, in which the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 2 ?m or less, a mean Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % is at least 1.2 times the Mn content in the steel sheet in mass %, and the retained austenite has a mean free path of 1.2 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Kazunori TAHARA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kaneharu OKUDA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170204490
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-strength steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure that contains, by area, 25-80% of ferrite and bainitic ferrite in total, and 3-20% of martensite, and that contains, by volume, 10% or more of retained austenite, in which the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 2 ?m or less, a mean Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % is at least 1.2 times the Mn content in the steel sheet in mass %, an area ratio of retained austenite having a mean C content in mass % at least 2.1 times the C content in the steel sheet in mass % is 60% or more of an area ratio of the entire retained austenite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Yoshie OBATA, Shinjiro KANEKO, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170204492
    Abstract: A cold-rolled steel sheet having excellent spot weldability suitable for use in vehicles, electric appliances, etc. is provided. The cold-rolled steel sheet has a steel composition containing, in mass%: C: 0.05% to 0.13%; Si: 0.05% to 2.0%; Mn: 1.5% to 4.0%; P: 0.05% or less; S: 0.005% or less; Al: 0.01% to 0.10%; Cr: 0.05% to 1.0%; Nb: 0.010% to 0.070%; Ti: 0.005% to 0.040%; and N: 0.0005% to 0.0065%, with a mass ratio Ti/N of Ti and N being 2.5 or more and 7.5 or less, and a balance being Fe and incidental impurities, wherein 70 mass % or more of Ti in steel exists as a precipitate, and 15 mass % or more of Nb in the steel exists as solute Nb, and a tensile strength is 980 MPa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji UEDA, Shinjiro KANEKO, Masami IWASAKI, Reiko SUGIHARA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Publication number: 20170204491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising: preparing a steel slab with a predetermined chemical composition; subjecting the steel slab to hot rolling by heating it to a temperature of 1100-1300° C., hot rolling it with a finisher delivery temperature of 800-1000° C. to form a hot-rolled steel sheet, and coiling the steel sheet at a mean coiling temperature of 200-500° C.; subjecting the steel sheet to pickling treatment; subjecting the steel sheet to annealing by retaining the steel sheet at a temperature of 740-840° C. for 10-900 s, and the cooling the steel sheet at a mean cooling rate of 5-30° C./s to a cooling stop temperature of 150-350° C.; and subjecting the steel sheet to reheating treatment by reheating the steel sheet to a reheating temperature of higher than 350° C. and 550° C. or lower, and retaining the steel sheet at the reheating temperature for 10 s or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takeshi YOKOTA, Yoshimasa FUNAKAWA, Kazuhiro SETO, Yukihiro MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20170175219
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-strength steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition, satisfying the condition that Mn content divided by B content equals 2100 or less, and a steel microstructure that contains, by area, 25-80% of ferrite and bainitic ferrite in total, 3-20% of martensite, and that contains, by volume, 10% or more of retained austenite, in which the retained austenite has a mean grain size of 2 ?m or less, a mean Mn content in the retained austenite in mass % is at least 1.2 times the Mn content in the steel sheet in mass %, and an aggregate of retained austenite formed by seven or more identically-oriented retained austenite grains accounts for 60% or more by area of the entire retained austenite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu KAWASAKI, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Yoshie OBATA, Shinjiro KANEKO, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO
  • Patent number: 9657380
    Abstract: A slab has a steel composition including 0.020% to 0.065% of C, 0.1% or less of Si, 0.40% to less than 0.80% of Mn, 0.030% or less of P, 0.005% or less of S, 0.08% to 0.16% of Ti, 0.005% to 0.1% of Al, 0.005% or less of N, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, in which Ti*(=Ti?(48/14)×N) satisfies [Ti*?0.08] and [0.300?C/Ti*?0.375], is subjected to hot rolling to obtain a hot-rolled steel sheet in which the steel microstructure includes, in terms of area fraction, 95% or more of a ferrite phase; the average ferrite grain size is 10 ?m or less; the average grain size of Ti carbides precipitated in steel is 10 nm or less; and Ti in the amount of 80% or more of Ti* is precipitated as Ti carbides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Kosaka, Kazuhiro Seto, Hidetaka Kawabe
  • Publication number: 20160186299
    Abstract: A high strength steel sheet having a high Young's modulus, the steel sheet having a chemical composition including, by mass %, C: 0.060% or more and 0.150% or less, Si: 0.50% or more and 2.20% or less, Mn: 1.00% or more and 3.00% or less, Nb: 0.001% or more and 0.200% or less, and V: 0.001% or more and 0.200% or less, in which the contents of C, Nb, and V satisfy the equation 500?C*?1300. The steel sheet has a microstructure including ferrite in an amount of 20% or more and martensite in an amount of 5% or more, in terms of area ratio, such that the average grain size of the ferrite is 20.0 ?m or less and the inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber for ?-fiber is 1.00 or more in each of the ferrite and the martensite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu MINAMI, Takeshi YOKOTA, Kazuhiro SETO