An integrated welding and thermal processing method includes heating adjoining surfaces, at least one of which is a creep strength enhanced ferritic (CSEF) steel alloy, to a sufficiently high temperature above their melting points to form a weld. The weld is allowed cool below the martensitic start temperature of one or both CSEF alloys. Thereafter, a supplemental heat source tempers the CSEF alloys by reheating the weld area at a rate of 10° C. per second or greater to above the CSEF alloys’ martensitic start temperatures, but not above the austenitization temperature of the CSEF alloys. After the weld’s heat affected zone is maintained at a temperature between the CSEF alloys’ martensitic finish temperature and martensitic start temperature, the weld is allowed to cool at a rate of 15° C. per minute or greater.

A steel sheet for the manufacture of a press hardened part is provided, having a composition of: 0.15%≤C≤0.22%, 3.5%≤Mn<4.2%, 0.001%≤Si≤1.5%, 0.020%≤Al≤0.9%, 0.001%≤Cr≤1%, 0.001%≤Mo≤0.3%, 0.001%≤Ti≤0.040%, 0.0003%≤B≤0.004%, 0.001%≤Nb≤0.060%, 0.001%≤N≤0.009%, 0.0005%≤S≤0.003%, 0.001%≤P≤0.020%. A microstructure has less than 50% ferrite, 1% to 20% retained austenite, cementite, such that the surface density of cementite particles larger than 60 nm is lower than 10{circumflex over ( )}7/mm.sup.2, and a complement of bainite and/or martensite, the retained austenite having an average Mn content of at least 1.1*Mn %. Press-hardened steel part obtained by hot forming the steel sheet, and manufacturing methods thereof.

A steel sheet for the manufacture of a press hardened part is provided, having a composition of: 0.15%≤C≤0.22%, 3.5%≤Mn<4.2%, 0.001%≤Si≤1.5%, 0.020%≤Al≤0.9%, 0.001%≤Cr≤1%, 0.001%≤Mo≤0.3%, 0.001%≤Ti≤0.040%, 0.0003%≤B≤0.004%, 0.001%≤Nb≤0.060%, 0.001%≤N≤0.009%, 0.0005%≤S≤0.003%, 0.001%≤P≤0.020%. A microstructure has less than 50% ferrite, 1% to 20% retained austenite, cementite, such that the surface density of cementite particles larger than 60 nm is lower than 10{circumflex over ( )}7/mm.sup.2, and a complement of bainite and/or martensite, the retained austenite having an average Mn content of at least 1.1*Mn %. Press-hardened steel part obtained by hot forming the steel sheet, and manufacturing methods thereof.

A high-strength high-toughness electric-resistance-welded steel pipe having high resistance to post-weld heat treatment is provided. The steel pipe having a composition including C: 0.01% to 0.12%, Si: 0.05% to 0.50%, Mn: 1.0% to 2.2%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.001% to 0.10%, N: 0.006% or less, Nb: 0.010% to 0.100%, and Ti: 0.001% to 0.050%. The steel pipe having a structure composed of 90% or more by volume of a bainitic ferrite phase and 10% or less (including 0%) by volume of a second phase. The bainitic ferrite phase having an average grain size of 10 μm or less, and the structure containing fine Nb precipitates having a particle size of less than 20 nm dispersed in a base material portion. The steel pipe having high strength and toughness that is maintained through post-weld heat treatment, including heating to a temperature of 600° C. or more.

A high-strength high-toughness electric-resistance-welded steel pipe having high resistance to post-weld heat treatment is provided. The steel pipe having a composition including C: 0.01% to 0.12%, Si: 0.05% to 0.50%, Mn: 1.0% to 2.2%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.001% to 0.10%, N: 0.006% or less, Nb: 0.010% to 0.100%, and Ti: 0.001% to 0.050%. The steel pipe having a structure composed of 90% or more by volume of a bainitic ferrite phase and 10% or less (including 0%) by volume of a second phase. The bainitic ferrite phase having an average grain size of 10 μm or less, and the structure containing fine Nb precipitates having a particle size of less than 20 nm dispersed in a base material portion. The steel pipe having high strength and toughness that is maintained through post-weld heat treatment, including heating to a temperature of 600° C. or more.

A high-strength high-toughness electric-resistance-welded steel pipe having high resistance to post-weld heat treatment is provided. The steel pipe having a composition including C: 0.01% to 0.12%, Si: 0.05% to 0.50%, Mn: 1.0% to 2.2%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.001% to 0.10%, N: 0.006% or less, Nb: 0.010% to 0.100%, and Ti: 0.001% to 0.050%. The steel pipe having a structure composed of a 90% or more by volume of a bainitic ferrite phase as a main phase and 10% or less (including 0%) by volume of a second phase. The bainitic ferrite phase having an average grain size of 10 μm or less, and the structure containing fine Nb precipitates having a particle size of less than 20 nm dispersed in a base material portion. The steel pipe having high strength, toughness, and high resistance that is maintained through post-weld heat treatment.

A high-strength high-toughness electric-resistance-welded steel pipe having high resistance to post-weld heat treatment is provided. The steel pipe having a composition including C: 0.01% to 0.12%, Si: 0.05% to 0.50%, Mn: 1.0% to 2.2%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.001% to 0.10%, N: 0.006% or less, Nb: 0.010% to 0.100%, and Ti: 0.001% to 0.050%. The steel pipe having a structure composed of a 90% or more by volume of a bainitic ferrite phase as a main phase and 10% or less (including 0%) by volume of a second phase. The bainitic ferrite phase having an average grain size of 10 μm or less, and the structure containing fine Nb precipitates having a particle size of less than 20 nm dispersed in a base material portion. The steel pipe having high strength, toughness, and high resistance that is maintained through post-weld heat treatment.

A resistance welded steel pipe is provided. A hot-rolled steel sheet having a composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.025 to 0.168%, Si: 0.10 to 0.30%, Mn: 0.60 to 1.90%, and one or at least two selected from Ca, Nb, V, and Ti such that Pcm is 0.20 or less is subjected to continuous cold roll forming to obtain a pipe-shaped body. Tapered grooves are formed in the steel sheet such that the ratio of the tapered portions to the wall thickness of the steel sheet is 10 to 80%. Then end surfaces of the pipe-shaped body are butted against each other and subjected to electric resistance welding. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted toward the electric resistance weld surface such that a beam width is within the range of 0.1 to 4.0 mm, and the reflected waves are used for ultrasonic flaw detection using an ultrasonic flaw detector.

A high-strength thick-walled electric resistance welded steel pipe has excellent low-temperature toughness and excellent HIC resistance and a yield strength of 400 MPa or more. The steel has a chemical composition consisting of C: 0.025% to 0.084%, Si: 0.10% to 0.30%, Mn: 0.70% to 1.80%, controlled amounts of P, S, Al, N, and O, Nb: 0.001% to 0.065%, V: 0.001% to 0.065%, Ti: 0.001% to 0.033%, and Ca: 0.0001% to 0.0035% on a mass percent basis and the remainder being Fe and incidental impurities, and satisfies Pcm of 0.20 or less.

A method of performing a localized post weld heat treatment on a weld seam in a thin wall metallic body may include attaching thermocouples to the outside surface of the weld seam and covering the weld seam with a thermal insulating blanket. Cooling bands are attached to the outside of the body on both sides of the weld seam. An inert atmosphere enclosure with inlet and exhaust ports is fitted over the weld seam, thermal insulating blanket, and cooling bands. A power supply and control system for an induction coil or coils situated in close proximity to the weld seam are actuated and the weld seam is subjected to a heat treatment without thermally affecting regions of the metallic body adjacent to the weld seam and external to the cooling bands.