A method for producing an aluminum wire that has high strength and high conductivity even when reduced in diameter while having excellent elongation and improved in productivity. A method for producing an aluminum wire includes a solution step of subjecting a heat-treatable aluminum alloy material to a solution treatment, a wire-drawing step of subjecting the solution-treated aluminum alloy material to wire-drawing processing, a softening step of subjecting the wire-drawing processed aluminum alloy material to a softening treatment in a short time within 10 seconds, and an aging step of subjecting the softening-treated aluminum alloy material to an aging treatment.

A method for producing an aluminum wire that has high strength and high conductivity even when reduced in diameter while having excellent elongation and improved in productivity. A method for producing an aluminum wire includes a solution step of subjecting a heat-treatable aluminum alloy material to a solution treatment, a wire-drawing step of subjecting the solution-treated aluminum alloy material to wire-drawing processing, a softening step of subjecting the wire-drawing processed aluminum alloy material to a softening treatment in a short time within 10 seconds, and an aging step of subjecting the softening-treated aluminum alloy material to an aging treatment.

A method for heating a blank or a preformed steel sheet component for hot forming and/or quench hardening purposes. In at least some regions, the heating is carried out to a temperature above AC3; the heating of the Hank is embodied as a rapid heating and to this end, the blank is heated in a first zone at an average heating rate of >25 K/s up to about 600° C. and above this temperature, is heated at an average heating rate of >10 K/s up to a maximum of the AC3 temperature and then is transferred to a second zone in which the blank that has been preheated in the first zone is heated in at least some regions to temperatures greater than AC3, in particular >850° C., with the heating rate in the second zone being >10 K/s. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Apparatus is provided for metallurgical heat treatment of coil springs, or similarly shaped workpieces and articles of manufacture, by electric resistance heating along the entire length of the workpiece so that the ends of the workpiece can be heat treated to the same degree and quality as the section of the workpiece between its two ends.

Apparatus is provided for metallurgical heat treatment of coil springs, or similarly shaped workpieces and articles of manufacture, by electric resistance heating along the entire length of the workpiece so that the ends of the workpiece can be heat treated to the same degree and quality as the section of the workpiece between its two ends.

A hot metal gas forming and quenching system and process therefor are provided. The system includes a hydraulic press, a die assembly, a rapid heating module and a rapid cooling module. The die assembly includes a progressive die which can realize the hot gas bulging and rapid cooling of the workpiece. Through the above system and the process, making pipes with uncoated plates has a lower cost than with coated and plated steel plates, with fewer structural defects and process risks. By using a progressive die, a resistance heating process, and hot gas bulging and quenching processes are performed in parallel, and the material is loaded progressively, thereby having a fast pace and a greatly improved efficiency. A heating state of parts is fully protected, oxidation is avoided, and no coating is required. After the workpiece is formed, it can be directly welded to a car body without shot blasting.

There is provided a hot-stamped body including: a steel base metal; and a metallic layer formed on a surface of the steel base metal, wherein the metallic layer includes: an interface layer that contains, in mass %, Al: 30.0 to 36.0%, has a thickness of 100 nm to 5 μm, and is located in an interface between the metallic layer and the steel base metal; and a principal layer that includes coexisting MgZn.sub.2 phases and insular FeAl.sub.2 phases, is located on the interface layer, and has a thickness of 3 μm to 40 μm.

An apparatus can be used for heating a steel sheet. A positive electrode is configured to make contact with a first electrode area of the steel sheet and a negative electrode is configured to make contact with a second electrode area of the steel sheet. A cooling member includes a cooling block configured to make contact with a cooling area adjacent to a third edge parallel to a second direction. The cooling member is configured to radiate heat generated from the steel sheet. The positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the cooling member are arranged on the steel sheet such that the resistance of a path from the positive electrode to the negative electrode through an area with which the cooling member makes contact is higher than the resistance of a path from the positive electrode to the negative electrode through the cooling member.

An apparatus can be used for heating a steel sheet. A positive electrode is configured to make contact with a first electrode area of the steel sheet and a negative electrode is configured to make contact with a second electrode area of the steel sheet. A cooling member includes a cooling block configured to make contact with a cooling area adjacent to a third edge parallel to a second direction. The cooling member is configured to radiate heat generated from the steel sheet. The positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the cooling member are arranged on the steel sheet such that the resistance of a path from the positive electrode to the negative electrode through an area with which the cooling member makes contact is higher than the resistance of a path from the positive electrode to the negative electrode through the cooling member.

A method for processing a steel plate capable of removing residual strain at a trim edge thereof without causing overheating in areas of the steel plate other than the trim edge. A method of processing a steel plate includes punching a steel plate and disposing heating electrodes in such a way that a trim edge punched in the punching is positioned between electrode surfaces facing each other and then heating a part of the steel plate including the trim edge.