Abstract: A process for producing steel wire or rod having high strength and ductility comprises the steps of(a) hot rolling a steel comprising 0.2-0.4%, by weight, of C, and 0.5-2.5%, by weight, of Mn, balance iron and inevitable impurities, while controlling the rolling conditions so that intermediate and final rolling temperatures are below 1000.degree. C., and the total reduction ratio at temperatures below 930.degree. C. is greater than 30%; thereby producing a steel consisting of work-hardened austenite having fine and uniform grains with an average austenite grain size of less than 25 .mu.m; and(b) cooling said steel immediately after rolling to a temperature below 350.degree. C. at an average cooling rate of 20.degree.-250.degree. C./sec, thereby forming a final phase in said steel of high ductility consisting essentially of martensite and a small amount of retained austenite.The resulting steel has a martensitic structure and has high strength combined with high ductility. Up to 0.1% of Nb, up to 0.

Abstract: A high-strength, high-toughness steel with good workability is produced by working a steel containing 0.005-0.3% C and 0.3-2.5% Mn and optionally up to 1.5% Si, in the course of hot working thereof, at temperatures within the range of from the Ar.sub.3 point to 930.degree. C. or to 980.degree. C. (for a steel containing Nb, V, Ti and/or Zr) at an area reduction rate of at least 30%, and, in the course of cooling, rapidly cooling the steel in the ferrite phase precipitation temperature range when the ferrite phase has occupied 5-65% or 5-60% (for a steel with Si and/or Nb, V, Ti and/or Zr) of the steel, whereby a two-phase structure comprising ferrite and martensite is produced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the controlled cooling of a hot rolled steel rod. A hot rolled steel rod issued from a final stand of mill train is rapidly cooled, and then formed into a coil. The coiled rod is transported in a generally horizontal direction with its loops held at an angle of 30.degree. to 60.degree. relative to the direction of transportation and with a pitch of at least 2d/sin .alpha. where d is a diameter of the rod and .alpha. is the above-mentioned angle. A cooling medium, e.g. air, is forcibly applied to the coiled rod upwardly from below the coiled rod to cool the coiled rod uniformly at such a cooling rate as to achieve a phase transformation to obtain a structure consisting essentially of fine pearlite. The apparatus includes a cooling device for the rapid cooling, a laying head for the coil forming, a conveyor for transporting the coiled rod while supporting its loops at the angle and pitch, a coolant supply, and a mechanism for collecting the treated rod.