A heat treatment system includes heating chambers configured to perform heat treatment on objects to be treated, and a conveyance device configured to load each of the objects to be treated into the heating chambers, unload the object to be treated from the heating chambers, and convey the object to be treated under an oxygen-free atmosphere, wherein the conveyance device includes a cooling device configured to perform cooling treatment on the object to be treated.

A system for treatment of atomized powder including a fluidized bed operable to treat feedstock alloy powders. A method of treating atomized powder including communicating an inert gas into a fluidized bed; communicating an atomized powder into the fluidized bed; and heating the atomized powder in the fluidized bed, eject the treated powders out of the fluidized bed to quench the powders.

A method for continuously annealing aluminium alloy sheet at final thickness by continuously moving heat-treatable AlMgSi aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous annealing furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (T.sub.SET) in the temperature range of 500° C. to 590° C., the continuous annealing furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous annealing furnace, wherein the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, wherein before or near the entry section of the continuous annealing furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the T.sub.SET using an average heat-up rate as function of sheet thickness of at least Y=−31.Math.ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a cold-rolling strip steel (1) with the strength and hardness thereof varying in a thickness direction, the method comprising the steps: smelting, continuous casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, and continuous annealing. When quenching is performed in the continuous annealing step, an asymmetric quenching and cooling process is performed on both surfaces of the strip steel. In addition, also disclosed is a cold-rolling strip steel (1) with the strength and hardness thereof varying in a thickness direction, which is prepared by the above manufacturing method. The manufacturing method realizes asymmetric mechanical property distribution of the strip steel by performing an asymmetric quenching and cooling process on the strip steel, thereby obtaining a gradual hardness gradient in a thickness direction, so as to obtain the combined properties of high hardness and high strength, and also excellent toughness, plasticity and formability, which can effectively deal with the contradiction between the strength, plasticity and toughness of ultra high-strength steel.

There are disclosed a heat treatment installation and a method of producing shaped components having at least two microstructural regions of different ductility or strength from semi-finished products of hardenable steel, using a continuous furnace which permits heating of the semi-finished products to a first temperature in a first region and permits heating of the semi-finished products to a second temperature, which differs from the first temperature, in a second region. The two regions are separated from one another by partition walls extending in the transport direction, and the continuous furnace includes a lifting-step chain conveyor as a transport device.

Systems and methods for heat treating closed shape workpieces are provided. In one example implementation, a method can include imparting relative motion of the closed shape workpiece such that the perimeter surface of the closed shape workpiece is moved relative to the lamp heat source from a first position where a first portion of the closed shape workpiece is presented to the lamp heat source to a second position where a second portion of the closed shape workpiece is presented to the lamp heat source. The method can include emitting lamp heat onto the perimeter surface of the closed shape workpiece from the lamp heat source during imparting of relative motion of the closed shape workpiece. The method can include implementing a flux control procedure during emitting of lamp heat onto the perimeter surface of the closed shape workpiece.

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.

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.

A low-cost and high-formability 1180 MPa grade cold-rolled annealed dual-phase steel plate and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The dual-phase steel plate has the following chemical composition by mass percentages: C: 0.1%-0.125%, Si: 0.4%-0.8%, Mn: 2.6%-2.9%, Al: 0.01%-0.05%, Nb: 0.01%-0.03%, and Ti: 0.01%-0.03%, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. By reasonable design of alloy elements and manufacturing processes, the dual-phase steel plate of the invention achieves a strength of 1180 MPa grade at a low cost, obtains a fine and uniform martensite-ferrite dual-phase structure that ensures excellent elongation rate and cold bending performance, and has good formability. The dual-phase steel plate has a yield strength of more than 850 MPa, a tensile strength of more than 1180 MPa, an elongation rate of 8% or more, and a parameter (R/t), characterizing the 90-degree cold bending performance, of 2.5 or less.

Provided is a continuous annealing line capable of producing a steel sheet excellent in hydrogen embrittlement resistance. A continuous annealing line 100 comprises: a payoff reel 10 configured to uncoil a cold-rolled coil C to feed a cold-rolled steel sheet S; an annealing furnace 20 configured to continuously anneal the cold-rolled steel sheet S and including a heating zone 22, a soaking zone 24, and a cooling zone 26 that are arranged from an upstream side in a sheet passing direction; a downstream line 30 configured to continuously pass the cold-rolled steel sheet S discharged from the annealing furnace 20 therethrough; a tension reel 50 configured to coil the cold-rolled steel sheet S; and a sound wave irradiator 60 configured to irradiate the cold-rolled steel sheet S being passed from the cooling zone 26 to the tension reel 50 with sound waves.