A method for open-loop and/or closed-loop control of a heating of a cast or rolled metal product, includes the steps of determining the total enthalpy of the metal product from a sum of the free molar enthalpies (Gibbs energy) of all phases and/or phase fractions currently present in the metal product; determining a temperature distribution within the metal product by means of a dynamic temperature calculation model using the total enthalpy determined; and open-loop and/or closed-loop controlling of the heating of the metal product as a function of at least one output variable of the temperature calculation model.

An apparatus for producing and further processing slabs of a metal, preferably steel, comprises: a continuous casting apparatus, which is designed to produce at least one cast strand and to transport it in a transport direction; a cutting device, which is arranged behind the continuous casting apparatus, as seen in the transport direction, and is designed to cut the cast strand into slabs; at least a first route and a second route, which implement, at least in some portions, different process lines for the further processing of the slabs; and a process control system, which is designed to make a route decision on a slab-specific basis as a function of at least one measured or calculated process parameter, which route decision assigns one of the plurality of routes to the respective slab, and to initiate the further processing of the corresponding slab along the assigned route.

This application discloses thin metal strips and methods of making thin metal strip. Particular embodiments of such methods include cooling the thin metal strip to a temperature equal to or less than a bainite or a martensite start transformation temperature B.sub.S or M.sub.S to thereby form bainite and/or martensite, respectively, within the thin metal strip, reheating the thin metal strip to a reheat temperature equal to or greater than transformation temperature Ac.sub.3 and holding the thin metal strip at the reheat temperature for at least 2 seconds and thereby forming austenite within the thin metal strip with at least 75% of austenite grains having a grain size equal to or less than 15 μm, and rapidly recooling the thin metal strip to a temperature equal to or less than the martensite start transformation temperature M.sub.S and thereby providing finer martensite within the thin metal strip from a finer prior austenite.

An apparatus for the continuous casting of thin slabs, having a strand guide, which is arranged downstream of a permanent mold in the casting direction and which guides the strand output from the permanent mold along a first direction, having an adjoining bending/straightening region, which a mechanism for driving and bending the strand in a second direction, which differs from the first direction, having a cutting device, which cuts the strand into thin slabs, and having a first furnace, which is provided for temperature compensation in the strand, wherein the first furnace extends in an arched manner at least partially over the bending/straightening region and in part along the second direction.

A method for semi-continuous casting of a strand (1) of steel in a strand casting machine and a strand casting machine for such casting. The strand has little segregation of the center and porosity. Yet it is castable rapidly. The method steps are: at a casting start of the strand casting machine, pouring liquid steel into an open-ended mold (2). The mold is closed by a cold strand (6). The liquid steel forms, together with the cold strand, a completely solidified strand start (1a) and subsequently forms a semi-solidified strand (1b). Then extracting the semi-solidified strand (1b) from the open-ended mold (2). Supporting and guiding the semi-solidified strand (1b) in a strand guide (3). Cooling the semi-solidified strand (1b) by secondary cooling (4) at the casting end of the strand casting machine, ending the pouring of liquid steel into the open-ended mold (2) and forming a strand end (1c). Extracting the strand end (1c) from the open-ended mold (2). Ending the extraction such that the strand end (1c) lies outside the open-ended mold (2). Ending the secondary cooling (4). Controlling or regulating cooling of the semi-solidified strand (1b) until complete solidification of the strand (1) in a tertiary cooling zone (5) of the strand casting machine. The cooling effect is stronger at the strand start (1a) and decreases towards the strand end (1c). Discharging the strand (1) from the strand casting machine.

Described are methods of preparing compositionally gradient aluminum alloy products. The methods may include casting a composite ingot in a mold. The composite ingot may include an inner region comprising a first aluminum alloy, an outer region surrounding the inner region, and a compositionally gradient zone between the inner region and the outer region. The outer region may include a second aluminum alloy different from the first aluminum alloy. At least one alloying element of the first aluminum alloy may have a content that is decreased through the compositionally gradient zone in a direction from the inner region to the outer region. Also described are aluminum alloy composite ingots and rolled aluminum alloy products having a compositionally gradient zone.

An inductor to heat, by electromagnetic induction, an electrically conductive body, including an induction body, hollow inside, suitable to generate an electromagnetic field, the internal surface of which defines a containing seating, disposed through in a longitudinal direction.

Aluminum alloy sheet for battery lid use excellent in heat radiation ability, formability, and work softenability, which aluminum alloy sheet for battery lid use enabling formation of an integrated explosion-proof valve with little variation in operating pressure and excellent in cyclic fatigue resistance, and a method of production of the same are provided, the aluminum alloy sheet for battery lid use for forming an integrated explosion-proof valve having a component composition containing Fe: 1.05 to 1.50 mass %, Mn: 0.15 to 0.70 mass %, Ti: 0.002 to 0.15 mass %, and B: less than 0.03 mass %, having a balance of Al and impurities, having an Fe/Mn ratio restricted to 1.8 to 7.0, restricting, as impurities, Si to less than 0.40 mass %, Cu to less than 0.03 mass %, Mg to less than 0.05 mass %, and V to less than 0.03 mass %, having a conductivity of 53.0% IACS or more, having a value of elongation of 40% or more, having a recrystallized structure, having a value of (TS95-TS70) of less than −1 MPa when defining a tensile strength after cold rolling by a rolling reduction of 70% as TS70 and defining a tensile strength after cold rolling by a rolling reduction of 95% as TS95, and having a value of elongation after cold rolling by a rolling reduction of 90% of 5.0% or more. Furthermore, an average grain size of the recrystallized grains of the recrystallized structure is preferably 15 to 30 μm.

Aluminum alloy sheet for battery lid use excellent in heat radiation ability, formability, and work softenability, which aluminum alloy sheet for battery lid use enabling formation of an integrated explosion-proof valve with little variation in operating pressure and excellent in cyclic fatigue resistance, and a method of production of the same are provided, the aluminum alloy sheet for battery lid use for forming an integrated explosion-proof valve having a component composition containing Fe: 1.05 to 1.50 mass %, Mn: 0.15 to 0.70 mass %, Ti: 0.002 to 0.15 mass %, and B: less than 0.04 mass %, having a balance of Al and impurities, having an Fe/Mn ratio restricted to 1.8 to 7.0, restricting, as impurities, Si to less than 0.40 mass %, Cu to less than 0.03 mass %, Mg to less than 0.05 mass %, and V to less than 0.03 mass %, having a conductivity of 53.0% IACS or more, having a value of elongation of 40% or more, having a recrystallized structure, having a value of (TS95−TS80) of less than −3 MPa when defining a tensile strength after cold rolling by a rolling reduction of 80% as TS80 and defining a tensile strength after cold rolling by a rolling reduction of 95% as TS95, and having a value of elongation after cold rolling by a rolling reduction of 90% of 5.0% or more. Furthermore, an average grain size of the recrystallized grains of the recrystallized structure is preferably 15 to 30 μm.

A device for producing hot-rolled metal strips has a casting machine that produces and transports slabs in a transport line of the casting machine. A rolling mill forms the slabs into corresponding metal strips during transport along a transport line of the rolling mill. A combination transport and temperature-influencing device is arranged between the casting machine and the rolling mill transports the slabs at least along the transport line of the rolling mill, feeds the slabs to the rolling mill and sets the temperature of the slabs to a rolling temperature. A surface device is arranged between the casting machine and the combination transport and temperature-influencing device and processes and/or treats and/or inspects at least one of the surfaces of the slabs. A temperature-influencing device is arranged between the casting machine and the combination transport and temperature-influencing device and modifies the temperature of the slabs.