Abstract: A multi-track laser beam process for surface hardening a low-carbon and low manganese steel. The process includes providing cold rolled close annealed (CRCA) steel sheets having in weight percentage, C: 0.03-0.07, Mn: 0.15-0.25 or 1.4, S: 0.005-0.009, P: 0.009-0.014, Si: 0.005-0.02, Al: 0.04, V: 0.001, Nb: 0.001, and Ti: 0.002 and heating the surface of the steel sheet to an austenizing temperature using a multi-track laser beam, where, upon cooling, phase transformation of the initial microstructure to a harder dual phase structure occurs. The surface temperature of the steel sheet may be controlled based on a comparison of the on-line surface temperature effect with pre-stored data representing the desired surface temperature effect to eliminate any possibility of melting the sheet. The development of the desired microstructure of the sheet, including measurement of the hardness level and the fraction of different phases, may be periodically reviewed.

Abstract: A multi-track laser beam process for surface hardening a low-carbon and low manganese steel. The process includes providing cold rolled close annealed (CRCA) steel sheets having in weight percentage, C: 0.03-0.07, Mn: 0.15-0.25 or 1.4, S: 0.005-0.009, P: 0.009-0.014, Si: 0.005-0.02, Al: 0.04, V: 0.001, Nb: 0.001,and Ti: 0.002 and heating the surface of the steel sheet to an austenizing temperature using a multi-track laser beam, where, upon cooling, phase transformation of the initial microstructure to a harder dual phase structure occurs. The surface temperature of the steel sheet may be controlled based on a comparison of the on-line surface temperature effect with pre-stored data representing the desired surface temperature effect to eliminate any possibility of melting the sheet. The development of the desired microstructure of the sheet, including measurement of the hardness level and the fraction of different phases, may be periodically reviewed.