Abstract: Steel strapping and a method of manufacturing steel strapping are disclosed. The steel strapping has the following composition in wt % and a microstructure including a matrix of recovery-annealed cold worked ferrite containing martensite and carbides dispersed through the matrix. C: up to 0.2 Mn: up to 2.0 Si: 0.2-0.4 Ti: 0.025-0.045 V: 0.05-0.07 Cr: up to 0.25 Ni: up to 0.30 Mo: up to 0.10 N: up to 0.005 Cu: up to 0.20 Al: up to 0.08 Nb: up to 0.005 P: up to 0.035 S: up to 0.020 Balance  iron and incidental impurities.

Abstract: Steel strapping and a method of manufacturing steel strapping are disclosed. The steel strapping has the following composition in wt % and a microstructure including a matrix of recovery-annealed cold worked ferrite containing martensite and carbides dispersed through the matrix. 1 C: up to 0.2 Mn: up to 2.0 Si: 0.2-0.4 Ti: 0.025-0.045 V: 0.05-0.07 Cr: up to 0.25 Ni: up to 0.30 Mo: up to 0.10 N: up to 0.005 Cu: up to 0.20 Al: up to 0.08 Nb: up to 0.005 P: up to 0.035 S: up to 0.020 Balance  iron and incidental impurities.

Abstract: A method of heat treating cold rolled steel strapping comprising rapidly heating the strapping to the dual phase temperature range at a rate of the order of 100.degree. C. per second, with little or more soaking, and rapidly cooling the strapping at a rate of the order of 1000.degree. C. per second to form a microstructure comprising a matrix of recovery annealed cold work ferrite containing martensite and carbides dispersed through the matrix. A heat treatment line for performing this method is described. A heat treated cold rolled steel strapping produced by the method is also described. The steel from which the strapping is made preferably has less than 0.2.degree. C. and includes Ti in the range 0.06 to 0.15% preferably about 0.08% and Nb in the range 0.02 to 0.05% preferably about 0.04%.