An example track shoe, cutting edge, or other component of a machine is formed in a heated process, such as hot-rolling followed by air-hardening. The air-hardening process involves cooling the component by flowing air over the component (e.g., air cooling), such that the component is cooled at a controlled rate. During the air-cooling process, such as in the range of about 250° C. to about 1100° C., the component may be machined, such as by shearing, punching, drilling, etc. The machining may form the final shape of the component. As the air-hardening process is completed, and the component approaches room temperature, the component may have at least 5% bainitic crystal composition, and as high as greater than 80% bainitic crystal composition, resulting in relatively high hardness and fracture toughness. The final track shoe may have a hardness between about 40 HRC and 55 HRC.

A bearing component composed of a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed tool steel is produced by a process that includes: (i) performing a first preheating within a temperature range of 600-650° C., (ii) performing a second preheating within a temperature range of 850-900° C., (iii) austenitizing in vacuum at 1000-1180° C. for 20-40 min, (iv) gas quenching at a minimum of 4-5 bar overpressure, and (v) tempering by performing either a double temper at 520-560° C. for 1.5-2.5 hours in each temper, or a triple temper at 520-560° C. for 0.5-1.5 hours in each temper. The steel alloy may be composed (in mass percent) of 1.32-1.45 C, 0.32-0.50 Si, 0.26-0.48 Mn, 4.0-4.85 Cr, 3.35-3.55 Mo, 3.55-3.85 V, 0-0.13 W, 0-0.20 Ni, 0-0.15 Cu, 0-0.8 Co, 0-0.03 P, and 0-0.03 S, the balance being iron and unavoidable impurities. Mo may be replaced with W or vice versa in a replacement ratio Mo:W of 1:2.

Methods for forming carbon-based lubricious and/or wear-protective films in situ on the surface of steel alloys are provided. The methods use chromium-containing steel alloys, molybdenum-containing steel alloys, and steel alloys that contain both copper and nickel. When such alloys are subjected to a rubbing motion in the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid, the chromium, molybdenum, copper, and nickel in the steel alloy catalyzes the formation of solid carbon-containing films that reduce the friction, wear, or both of the contacting surfaces.

Methods for forming carbon-based lubricious and/or wear-protective films in situ on the surface of steel alloys are provided. The methods use chromium-containing steel alloys, molybdenum-containing steel alloys, and steel alloys that contain both copper and nickel. When such alloys are subjected to a rubbing motion in the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid, the chromium, molybdenum, copper, and nickel in the steel alloy catalyzes the formation of solid carbon-containing films that reduce the friction, wear, or both of the contacting surfaces.

The invention relates to a component in the form of a wheel comprising: a hub portion, a rim portion with an outer rim flange and an inner rim flange, a plurality of circumferentially distributed spokes extending between the hub portion and the rim portion, wherein the spokes and the hub portion are arranged offset with respect to a wheel center plane towards the outer rim flange and have an inner side facing the wheel center plane and an outer side directed away from the wheel center plane, wherein the outer rim flange has greater tensile residual stresses at least in a partial region than at least a partial region of the inner rim flange.

Disclosed are implementations for heat treatment of steel components. In one or more first regions of a steel component, a predominantly austenitic structure can be adjusted, from which, by way of quenching, a mainly martensitic structure is educible. In one or more second regions of the steel component, there is a mainly bainitic structure, wherein the metal component is initially heated in a first furnace to a temperature above the Ac3 temperature. Subsequently, the steel component is transferred into a treatment station, wherein the steel component can cool down during the transfer. In the treatment station, the one or more second regions of the steel component are cooled down to a cooling stop temperatures ϑ.sub.2 during a treatment period. Subsequently, said metal component is transferred to a second furnace, wherein the temperature of the one or more second regions increases again to a temperature below the Ac3 temperature.

Cooling section for a steel strip continuous annealing or galvanizing line arranged to handle a metal strip (1), said section comprising at least one area (2) for dry cooling set up to project gas on said steel strip and at least one wet cooling area (5) set up to project a liquid or a mixture of gas and liquid on said steel strip.

Cooling section for a steel strip continuous annealing or galvanizing line arranged to handle a metal strip (1), said section comprising at least one area (2) for dry cooling set up to project gas on said steel strip and at least one wet cooling area (5) set up to project a liquid or a mixture of gas and liquid on said steel strip.

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a steel strip, a steel strip with controlled decarburized depth, a spot welded joint and the use of said steel strip or said spot welded joint. This invention is particularly well suited for the automotive industry due to the improvement of the Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) resistance along with target mechanical properties.

The invention relates to a cooling device (100) for cooling at least one element (150, 151) passing through said device, comprising a metal block (115), having a first side and a second side, and comprising a cooling channel (130) for cyrogenic gas. The at least one element (150, 151) can be guided along the sides of the first side of the metal block (115), the cooling channel (130) is at least partially in heat conductive connection with the second side of the metal block (115), and the cooling channel (130) has an attachment (131) on a first end for the entry of cryogenic gas and an attachment on a second end for the exit of cryogenic gas. The invention also comprises a hardening device having such a cooling device (100) and a method for cooling at least one element (150, 151) passing through said device.