A method for the recrystallisation annealing of a non-grain-oriented electric strip (2) in a continuous annealing and coating line (1) is presented. Therein, the electric strip (2) is heated in an induction furnace (5) to a temperature of at least 680° C. at a heating rate of at least 80 K/s and then, in an optional second continuous furnace (8), to a temperature of at least 820° C. at a heating rate of at most 20 K/s. The electric strip (2) is initially heated before the induction furnace (5) via a first continuous furnace (3) to a temperature of at least 300° C. at a heating rate of at most 60 K/s.

A heat treatment device for a thermal treatment of a workpiece is provided with a housing that houses a chamber for accommodating the workpiece for the thermal treatment. A first roller supports the workpiece and moves the workpiece in a moving direction. A first brush seal is provided, wherein the first roller and the first brush seal are arranged relative to each other such that a first side of the workpiece contacts the first roller and a second side of the workpiece that is opposed to the first side contacts the first brush seal such that the first roller and the first brush seal then seal at least a first section of the chamber from a second section of the chamber.

A steel-strip production method for producing a hot-dip-plated steel strip and a cold-rolled steel strip, the method being executed by a production apparatus including a continuous annealing furnace, a snout connected to the continuous annealing furnace, a contact-type seal plate device, a noncontact-type seal roll device, a hot-dip-plating tank being movable; and a roll configured to turn the path direction of the steel strip after passing through the snout, wherein a hot-dip-plated steel strip production unit configured to produce the hot-dip-plated steel strip by bringing the steel strip continuously annealed in the continuous annealing furnace into the hot-dip-plating tank; and a cold-rolled steel strip production unit configured to produce the cold-rolled steel strip by transferring the steel strip continuously annealed in the continuous annealing furnace without causing the steel strip to pass through the hot-dip-galvanizing tank, are configured to be switchable with one another.

A steel-strip production apparatus adapted to produce a hot-dip-plated steel strip and a cold-rolled steel strip includes a continuous annealing furnace, a snout connected to the continuous annealing furnace, a contact-type seal plate device and a noncontact-type seal roll device, a hot-dip-plating tank that is movable, and a roll configured to turn the path direction of the steel strip after passing through the snout, wherein a hot-dip-plated steel strip production unit configured to produce a hot-dip-plated steel strip by bringing the steel strip continuously annealed in the continuous annealing furnace into the hot-dip-plating tank; and a cold-rolled steel strip production unit configured to produce a cold-rolled steel strip by transferring the steel strip continuously annealed in the continuous annealing furnace without causing the steel strip to pass through the hot-dip-plating tank, are configured to be switchable with one another.

An apparatus for manufacturing a stress relieved length of steel having an oxidised surface layer includes: a heating chamber; a reaction chamber coupled to the heating chamber; and a conveying mechanism conveying the length of steel along a path through the heating chamber and reaction chamber. The heating chamber includes a heating apparatus arranged to heat the length of steel in a heating portion of the path. The apparatus further includes a control means including a sealed unit defined by the heating chamber and the reaction chamber and arranged to control both the temperature of the length of steel and the atmosphere to which the length of steel is exposed in an oxidisation portion of the path within the reaction chamber in which the oxidised surface layer is formed. A method of manufacturing a stress relieved length of steel having an oxidised surface layer is also disclosed.

A sealing device is installed in heating treatment equipment through which a steel strip passes, the device including a rotary damper which is placed above the steel strip so as to be in contact with the steel strip, and a roll which is placed below the steel strip so that the roll opposes the rotary damper to form a pair consisting of the rotary damper and the roll opposing each other, the steel strip passing through a gap, which is formed between the rotary damper and the roll opposing each other, in which two pairs each of which is the pair consisting of the rotary damper and the roll opposing each other are arranged in tandem in a moving direction of the steel strip in the heating treatment equipment, and an inert gas is fed into a space defined by the two pairs arranged in tandem.

A sealing device is installed in heating treatment equipment through which a steel strip passes, the device including a rotary damper which is placed above the steel strip so as to be in contact with the steel strip, and a roll which is placed below the steel strip so that the roll opposes the rotary damper to form a pair consisting of the rotary damper and the roll opposing each other, the steel strip passing through a gap, which is formed between the rotary damper and the roll opposing each other, in which two pairs each of which is the pair consisting of the rotary damper and the roll opposing each other are arranged in tandem in a moving direction of the steel strip in the heating treatment equipment, and an inert gas is fed into a space defined by the two pairs arranged in tandem.

The invention relates to a heat treatment device (100) for thermally treating a workpiece (101), in particular a strip-shaped workpiece (101). The heat treatment device (100) comprises a housing (102), which surrounds a chamber (103), in which the workpiece (101) can be positioned for carrying out a thermal treatment. The workpiece (101) is supported by a first roller (110) and can be moved along the direction of travel (105). The first roller (110) and a first brush seal (111) are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that a first side of the workpiece (101) is in contact with the first roller (110) and a second side of the workpiece (101), which is opposite the first side, is in contact with the first brush seal (111), such that, via the roller (110) and the first brush seal (111), at least one first section (I) of the chamber (103) is sealed in relation to a second section (II) of the chamber (103).

An apparatus (100) for manufacturing a stress relieved length of steel having an oxidised surface layer is disclosed. The apparatus (100) comprises: a heating chamber (102); a reaction chamber (104) coupled to the heating chamber (102); and a conveying mechanism arranged to convey the length of steel along a path through the heating chamber (102) and reaction chamber (104). The heating chamber (102) comprises a heating apparatus arranged to heat the length of steel in a heating portion (110) of the path. The apparatus (100) further comprises a control means comprising a sealed unit defined by the heating chamber (102) and the reaction chamber (104). The control means is arranged to control both the temperature of the length of steel and the atmosphere to which the length of steel is exposed in an oxidisation portion (112) of the path within the reaction chamber (104) in which the oxidised surface layer is formed. A method (100) of manufacturing a stress relieved length of steel having an oxidised surface layer is also disclosed.

A steel-strip production apparatus adapted to produce a hot-dip-plated steel strip and a cold-rolled steel strip includes a continuous annealing furnace, a snout connected to the continuous annealing furnace, a contact-type seal plate device and a noncontact-type seal roll device, a hot-dip-plating tank that is movable, and a roll configured to turn the path direction of the steel strip after passing through the snout, wherein a hot-dip-plated steel strip production unit configured to produce a hot-dip-plated steel strip by bringing the steel strip continuously annealed in the continuous annealing furnace into the hot-dip-plating tank; and a cold-rolled steel strip production unit configured to produce a cold-rolled steel strip by transferring the steel strip continuously annealed in the continuous annealing furnace without causing the steel strip to pass through the hot-dip-plating tank, are configured to be switchable with one another.