Abstract: A method for producing a silicon steel normalizing substrate comprises: steelmaking, hot rolling and normalizing steps. The normalizing step uses a normalizing furnace having a nonoxidizing heating furnace section. The nonoxidizing heating furnace section comprises more than 3 furnace zones. An energy investment ratio of the furnace zones used in the nonoxidizing heating furnace section is adjusted, so as to control an excess coefficient ? of the nonoxidizing heating furnace section to be within a range of 0.8??<1.0.

Abstract: Part of an ambient gas in a heating zone and/or a soaking zone is sucked out and is cooled through a high-temperature gas passage of a heat exchanger by heat exchange with a gas in a low-temperature gas passage, further cooled by mixing with part of an ambient gas in a cooling zone, further cooled through a gas cooler, dehumidified to a dew point of ?45° C. or less in a dryer, heated through the low-temperature gas passage of the heat exchanger by heat exchange with a gas in the high-temperature gas passage, and returned to the heating zone and/or the soaking zone.

Abstract: The invention provides a vertical annealing furnace including a heating zone and a soaking zone without any partition wall therebetween. The furnace has furnace-to-refiner gas suction openings disposed in a lower portion of a joint between the soaking zone and a cooling zone and in the heating zone and/or the soaking zone except a region extending 6 m in a vertical direction and 3 m in a furnace length direction both from a steel strip inlet at a lower portion of the heating zone. The furnace has refiner-to-furnace gas ejection openings disposed in a region in the joint between the soaking zone and the cooling zone, the region being located above the pass line in the joint, and in a region in the heating zone located above 2 m below the center of upper hearth rolls in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An annealing installation for the continuous annealing of metal strip guided through the installation, includes an entrance chute 2, a first top roller chamber 3, a heating station 4, 5, 6, a cooling station 7, 8, a second top roller chamber 9 and a discharge chute 10 together delimiting an M-shaped meandering tunnel with four legs connected with each other via the two top roller chambers and a lower turning section. The entrance chute extends along the first one of the legs, the heating and the cooling stations extend along the second one of the legs, the lower turning section and the third one of the legs, and the discharge chute extends along the fourth one of the legs. Strip feeding and discharging means are provided for continuously guiding the strip as a free-hanging loop between the two top roller chambers through the heating and cooling stations during a process of annealing.

Abstract: Steel and pigment-grade TiO2 with up to 99.99% (TiO2+ZrO2) are produced continuously by direct smelting ilmenite or titaniferous magnetite concentrates at ultra-high temperature. Both oxidic and metal phases are independently force circulated in fully backmixed melt circulation reactors. Close proximity to thermodynamic equilibrium permits liquidus composition melts to be contained within reactors with protective linings of unmelted shells comprised of oxycarbide of the solidus composition. The unmelted shells are maintained above the critical temperature of the ductile to brittle fracture transition by supercritical steam generation, whilst the endothermic heat is supplied by electrical conductive heating. Smelting reduction with natural gas or carbon with low sulphur content, followed by in-line continuous vacuum refining makes available a continuous feed of refined melt for further in-line processing at somewhat lower temperatures using known emerging technologies for titanium metal production.

Abstract: Method of making safe a heat treatment enclosure operating under a gas atmosphere, the said enclosure comprising a cooling chamber for rapidly cooling a metal strip running from an upstream chamber to a downstream chamber by means of a plurality of guide rollers, wherein said rapid cooling chamber is filled with a controlled atmosphere with a high hydrogen content and said strip is confined within said rapid cooling chamber by means of at least one pressure-balancing duct and of a plurality of gas locks placed between the various chambers, the pressures of the gas atmospheres between the chambers being balanced by means of ducts controlling the flow rates of the gas flowing through the said gas locks.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for continuously sintering a web material with a sintering furnace. An input refractory drive unrolls a refractory material from an input refractory roll and feeds the refractory material upon a furnace conveyor of the furnace. An output refractory drive removes the refractory material from the furnace and rolls the refractory material onto an output refractory roll. An input media drive unrolls the media material from an input media roll and feeds the media material onto the refractory material. An output media drive removes the media material from the refractory material and rolls the media material onto an output media roll. A hanging sensor senses the catenary hang of the media material from the input media roll.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical marker has a resonant frequency characteristic that is at a minimum at a bias field level corresponding to the operating point of the magnetomechanical marker. The magnetostrictive element has a magnetomechanical coupling factor k in the range 0.28 to 0.4 at the operating point. The magnetostrictive element is formed by applying current-annealing to an iron-nickel-cobalt based amorphous metal ribbon, or by cross-field annealing an iron-nickel-cobalt alloy that includes a few percent chromium and/or niobium.

Abstract: Elastic rotation rolls can be installed easily at optimal positions, and stable sealing performance can be attained for an extended period of time. Seal discs 47 are disposed at both ends of the roll shaft 46 of each elastic rotation roll 44 in the axial direction thereof. The outer peripheral surface of the seal disc 47 is closely contacted with the arc-shaped contact surface 52 of a sealing side wall 49 to attain sealing performance at each end face of the roll. Even if the seal disc 47 is displaced with respect to the sealing side wall 49, the sealing performance can be maintained. In this way, the structure of the sealing apparatus can be simplified and the elastic rotation rolls can be installed easily.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical article surveillance marker formed by first annealing an amorphous metal alloy, such alloy comprising iron and cobalt with the proportion of cobalt being in the range of about 5 to about 45 atomic percent, in the presence of a saturating magnetic field and then second annealing the alloy in the absence of the saturating magnetic field.

Abstract: A seal assembly of the invention located on entrance and exit sides of a heat treating furnace for a metallic strip. The seal assembly is formed of a housing having a furnace wall and a side plate, a seal sheet fixed at one end to the side plate and supported in place with flexibility, an elastic seal pad fixed to a surface of the seal sheet, and an elastic rotating roll held by the furnace wall at longitudinal ends and pressed against the elastic seal pad and a metallic strip to be treated. The elastic seal pad has a surface formed of a material with a limit oxygen index LOI of 26 or more and a hardness of 10 to 50 as measured according to JIS S6050. Also, a plurality of pressure applying mechanisms is attached to the side plate.

Abstract: A two-step continuous annealing process is applied to an amorphous metal alloy ribbon. During the first annealing step, a saturating transverse magnetic field is applied, and the field is omitted during the second annealing step. After the two annealing steps, the material is cut into discrete strips suitable for use as active elements in pulsed-field magnetomechanical EAS markers. The resulting markers exhibit satisfactory total frequency shift and ring-down signal amplitude characteristics, without excessive sensitivity to bias field variations.

Abstract: A ferrous strip is galvanized by establishing an electrostatic potential on the strip which is then submerged on a fluidized bed of powdered galvanizing material and then allowing the adhered galvanized powder to be carried by the strip to a reflow station. The reflow station heats the strip and galvanizing material to liquidity the galvanizing material and establish the necessary alloy interface on the ferrous strip. Thereafter, the strip passes to a cooling zone wherein the reflowed galvanizing material is solidified before contacting a roller to use to direct the strip to the exit of the galvanizing apparatus. The atmosphere within the galvanizing apparatus is remained inert through the use of nitrogen which is also used as the fluid medium for the suspension of the galvanizing powder in the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A device (100) for the heat treatment of at least one metal wire (1), chaterized by passing the wire (1) within at least one pair of thermal transfer plates (2, 2a, 2b) between two grooves (8, 8a, 8b) made in the two plates (2, 2a, 2b) of each of said pairs, the distance (E) between the plates being variable, the wire (1) being directly in contact with a gas (11) which is practically without forced ventilation and is disposed between the grooves (8, 8a, 8b).

Abstract: A pressure pad comprises a plenum chamber, adapted to be conneceted to a pressurized-fluid supply means, having a pair of parallel slit nozzles formed in a top wall, and the chamber is arranged underneath a path of a strip. The plenum chamber is provided with holes in the top wall and at least two obstructions on the top wall. The holes are arranged on imaginary lines that extend between the nozzles on both sides of the top wall and central portions thereof point to adjacent edges of the path. Each of the obstructions comprises at least one obstructing wall arranged on either side of one of the imaginary lines. The lines may have V-, Arch- or Bracket-shaped configurations.

Abstract: A method and device (100) for heat treating a metal strap (1), characteri by passing the strap (1) within an enclosure (2) containing a gas (3) which is practically free of forced ventilation, in such a manner that a transfer of heat takes place between the strap (1) and the walls (2a) of the enclosure (2) by means of the gas (3) contained in the enclosure (2). Metal straps (1) obtained by this method and this device (100).

Abstract: The invention relates to a high frequency heat-treatment of long continuous metal blanks wherein the long continuous metal blanks are fed in their lengthwise direction by a pushing rod which is insensible to the high frequency to pass through a high frequency heating furnace and to be introduced into a cooling chamber in which a transferring means consisting of a plurality of, for example, chain conveyors is provided to transfer the long continuous metal blanks laterally, i.e. in the direction perpendicular to their lengthwise direction for sufficiently cooling them. According to the invention the apparatus can be installed in a relatively small space and the long continuous metal blanks can be successively subjected to the heat-treatment efficiently.

Abstract: An annealing treatment in a continuous furnace in which a flow of dense inert gas is injected in a rising duct and a descending duct, these flows being regulated by the analysis of hydrogen detected by a pressure controller acting on valves to achieve a minimum escape of hydrogen.

Abstract: A method and device for thermally treating at least one carbon steel wire such a way as to obtain a homogenous austenite structure, characterized by the fact that the wire is heated in a tube containing a gas which has practically no forced ventilation, the gas being directly in contact with the wire and the time of heating of the wire being less than 4 seconds per millimeter of diameter of the wire. Pearlitization installation using such a method and device.

Abstract: In the manufacture of formable steel strip having a thickness between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, the following process steps are performed sequentially in a continuous process:(a) in a continuous casting machine forming liquid steel into a hot slab having a thickness of less than 100 mm,(b) hot rolling the hot slab from step (a), in the austenitic region and below 1100.degree. C., to form strip having a thickness of between 2 and 5 mm,(c) cooling the strip from step (b) to a temperature between 300.degree. C. and the temperature T.sub.t at which 75% of the steel is converted to ferrite,(d) rolling the cooled strip from step (c) at said temperature between 300.degree. C. and T.sub.t with a thickness reduction of at least 25% at a rolling speed not more than 1000 m/min.,(e) coiling the rolled strip from step (d).

Abstract: Carbon steel wire, which has been maintained at a temperature above the Ac3 ransformation temperature, is heat-treated to obtain a fine pearlitic structure by passing it through a tube containing a gas practically without forced ventilation and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid. Certain relationships between the diameter of the wire, the diameter of the tube and the conductivity of the gas are to be satisfied to ensure cooling of the wire to a temperature below the Acl transformation temperature in a time prior to the time of the pearlitic nose and to effect pearlitization to completion under a nearly isothermal state.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat treating a continuously moving metal wire (19) has at least two drum-like rotational body systems (5a, 5b) which are arranged in the heat-treatment area and around which the wire winds with several turns, and which, to avoid the relative movement between the wire and the surface of the rotational bodies as a result of a length change in the wire during the heat treatment, are each constructed of several disc-shaped rotational bodies (5) which are arranged in sequence, are termed below in short as "discs" and have at their periphery self-contained wire-guiding grooves (6), with all discs of one disc row (5a) being faced by allocated discs of another disc row (5b) with axially offset wire-guide grooves (6).

Abstract: Core laminations are stamped from electrical steel strip and stress annealed by induction heating in a closed tubular chute inclined downwardly from the stamping press. A preselected, non-ambient atmosphere is maintained within the chute.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making electrode material from high hardness active electrode alloy powder are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding the powder onto a carrier web, aligning a mesh or screen substrate with the carrier web, and compacting the powder and mesh in a series of roller mills. The carrier is removed after it has passed through the first roller mill, and the remaining green electrode web is passed through the second roller mill and into a sintering furnace. After sintering and cooling, the web is calendared, and then is wound on a take-up reel. The furnace provides a substantially water and oxygen-free argon-hydrogen atmosphere for sintering which discourages web oxidization at the elevated sintering temperature. A loss-in-weight feeder can be used to accurately deposit the desired amount of active material on the carrier web.

Abstract: This invention relates to a continuously treating line for a steel band, having a heating furnace by directly flaming. For heating the steel band with causing reduction, the heating furnace of directly flaming system is provided with a plurality of heating burners of reduction system which may form non-equilibrium range of the air and the fuel in a flame, that is, a reduction range, wherein the heating burners are positioned at predetermined arrangement with respect to the steel band and at a certain pitch predetermined in relation with an inner diameter of the burner in a line running direction.The treating line has said heating furnace constructed as mentioned above and a subsequent atmosphere furnace, and said atmosphere furnace may be provided with a sealing chamber having various means for avoiding invasion of the outer air.

Abstract: A continuous annealing furnace for a metallic strip, wherein each of a direct firing type non-oxidizing furnace and a forced convection type preheating zone is vertically disposed, with an inlet portion of the former being connected to an outlet portion of the latter, through a radiation type preheating zone which is provided with a direction changing roller at its upper end portion.

Abstract: In the manufacture of tubing, and particularly finned tubing, for use by the heat transfer industry in the manufacture of heat exchangers, annealed ends and lands are desirable in certain applications to facilitate the assembly of the tubes to headers and baffles by expanding techniques. Such spot-annealed portions can be produced on a continuous basis by the described apparatus in which the moving tube is passed through a heating chamber which reciprocates on a carriage in the direction of tube movement. The heating chamber has a pair of spaced, power-actuated clamps which grip the tubing at the ends of a discrete length portion. The heating chamber and carriage are moved with the tube while it is clamped to provide sufficient heating time to anneal the discrete length portion. The carriage then returns to its starting position. Heating of the discrete clamped tubing portion can be by a resistance technique through the clamps or by other techniques such as induction heating or gas radiant heat.

Abstract: Workpieces are heat treated in a fluidized bed contained within a vessel having a central well surrounded by helical ramps along which the workpieces move into and out of the bed. A perforated platform connects the ramp and movement of the workpieces along the discharge ramp is achieved by vibrating such ramp.

Abstract: A continuous cold rolling and annealing apparatus for a steel strip so that interruption of a cold rolling mill part does not directly cause a continuous annealing furnace part to be interrupted, in which apparatus at least one cold rolling mill is located upstream of the entrance of a continuous annealing furnace and an intermediate reel for supplying a spare steel strip coil to said continuous annealing furnace, is arranged between the cold rolling mill and the continuous annealing furnace.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling a steel strip in a continuous annealing line, which has a first cooling step in which the steel strip immediately after an overageing treatment is cooled from the overageing temperature to a temperature in the range of from about 95.degree. C. to 60.degree. C., a temperature which prevents a surface oxidation but allows self-drying of the strip, in a protective atmosphere using a liquid coolant; and a second cooling step in which the steel strip is cooled to a temperature suitable for a subsequent temper rolling using liquid coolant at a temperature no higher than 40.degree. C.

Abstract: During the process in which a metal strip is moved in a floating condition, the metal strip is first heated, and thereafter cooled and annealed. In heating the metal strip, the metal strip is heated so that a central portion widthwise thereof is increased in temperature more than that of both edges widthwise thereof. The metal strip is heated in a manner as described whereby a great thermal stress is not introduced in the metal strip and consequently, there is less possibility to produce wrinkles in the metal strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for sealing the inlet and outlet of a continuous strip furnace so as to minimize oxygen infiltration into the furnace, prevent heat loss from the furnace and to make the seals readily accessible for repair and replacement.

Abstract: A method for decontaminating and subsequently metallizing a filament comprises:Passing the filament through the inner tube of a first chamber for decontamination which comprises two concentric tubes having an annular space therebetween, the inner tube of which has a series of fine holes therein; wherein said inner tube is heated and said annular space contains an inert gas such that said gas flows through said holes in heated jet streams which impinge upon said filament, thereby heating and decontaminating said filament;Passing said heated and decontaminated filament into a second chamber for metallization also comprising two concentric tubes having an annular space therebetween, the inner tube of which has a series of fine holes therein; wherein said inner tube of said second chamber is heated and said annular space of said second chamber contains a gaseous, thermally decomposable metal compound such that said gaseous metal compound flows through said holes in heated jet streams and impinges upon said heated