A value of a parameter Q represented by “Q=([Ti]/48+[V]/51+[Zr]/91+[Nb]/93)/([C]/12)” is not less than 0.9 nor more than 1.1, when contents of Ti, V, Zr, Nb, and C (mass %) are represented as [Ti], [V], [Zr], [Nb], and [C] respectively. A matrix of a metal structure is a ferrite phase, and the metal structure does not contain a non-recrystallized structure. An average grain size of ferrite grains constituting the ferrite phase is not less than 30 μm nor more than 200 μm. A precipitate containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Zr, and Nb exists with a density of 1 particle/μm.sup.3 or more in the ferrite grain. An average grain size of the precipitate is not less than 0.002 μm nor more than 0.2 μm.

The invention relates to a steel plate, the chemical composition of which comprises, the contents being expressed by weight: 0.010%≦C≦0.20%, 0.06%≦Mn≦3%, Si≦1.5%, 0.005%≦Al≦1.5%, S≦0.030%, P≦0.040%, 2.5%≦Ti≦7.2%, (0.45×Ti)−0.35%≦B≦(0.45×Ti)+0.70%, and optionally one or more elements chosen from: Ni≦1%, Mo≦1%, Cr≦3%, Nb≦0.1%, V≦0.1%, the balance of the composition consisting of iron and inevitable impurities resulting from the smelting.

A high-strength galvanized steel sheet with high yield ratio having excellent ductility and stretch flange formability, the steel sheet having a chemical composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.04% or more and 0.13% or less, Si: 0.9% or more and 2.3% or less, Mn: 0.8% or more and 2.4% or less, P: 0.1% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 0.01% or more and 0.1% or less, N: 0.008% or less, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities and a microstructure including, in terms of area ratio, 94% or more of a ferrite phase and 2% or less of a martensite ferrite phase, wherein mean grain size of ferrite is 10 μm or less, Vickers hardness of ferrite is 140 or more, mean grain size of carbide particles existing at grain boundaries of ferrite is 0.5 μm or less, and aspect ratio of carbide particles existing at the grain boundaries of ferrite is 2.0 or less.

A surface-treated steel sheet for a battery container, including a steel sheet, an iron-nickel diffusion layer formed on the steel sheet, and a nickel layer formed on the iron-nickel diffusion layer and constituting the outermost layer, wherein when the Fe intensity and the Ni intensity are continuously measured from the surface of the surface-treated steel sheet for a battery container along the depth direction with a high frequency glow discharge optical emission spectrometric analyzer, the thickness of the iron-nickel diffusion layer being the difference between the depth at which the Fe intensity exhibits a first predetermined value and the depth at which the Ni intensity exhibits a second predetermined value is 0.04 to 0.31 μm; and the total amount of the nickel contained in the iron-nickel diffusion layer and the nickel contained in the nickel layer is 4.4 g/m.sup.2 or more and less than 10.8 g/m.sup.2.

A new scanning electrochemical microscopy tip positioning method that allows topography and surface activity to be resolved independently is presented. A SECM tip is oscillated relative to the surface of interest. Changes in the oscillation amplitude, caused by the intermittent contact of the SECM tip with the surface of interest, are used to detect the surface of interest, and as a feedback signal for various types of imaging

A hot-dip Sn—Zn-based alloy-plated steel sheet according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition; a diffusion alloy layer provided on one surface or both surfaces of the steel sheet; and a Sn—Zn-plated layer provided on the diffusion alloy layer, in which the diffusion alloy layer contains Fe, Sn, Zn, Cr, and Ni, an area ratio of a Sn—Fe—Cr—Zn phase to a Sn—Fe—Ni—Zn phase in the diffusion alloy layer is 0.01 or more and less than 2.5, the diffusion alloy layer has a coverage of 98% or more with respect to the one surface, the Sn—Zn-plated layer contains 1% to 20% of Zn by mass % and a remainder consisting of Sn and impurities, and an adhesion amount of the Sn—Zn-plated layer is 10 to 80 g/m.sup.2 per one surface.

The present invention relates to an iron-based alloy that is able to provide a coating on a substrate, the coating having simultaneously high hardness and wear resistance. The iron-based alloy consists of 3.0-7.0% by weight Cr; 1.3-3.0% by weight C; 0.2-2.0% by weight B; 2.0-10.0% by weight V; optionally 1.5% by weight or less Si; optionally 1.0% by weight or less Mn, optionally 2.0% by weight or less Mo; optionally 1.5% by weight or less Ni; the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities. The present invention further relates to an article comprising a substrate and coating formed thereon, the coating being formed from the alloy, and to a method for forming a coated article. The method preferably employs HVOF, laser cladding or plasma cladding.

A method of manufacturing a hot dip coated steel strip, wherein coating takes place by leading the strip through a bath of molten metal including Al, the remainder of the metal being Zn, inevitable impurities and optionally a maximum of 0.3% of one or more additional elements, wherein the composition of the bath is controlled so as to have an aluminium content of more than 0.50%.

A surface-treated steel sheet for a battery container, including a steel sheet, an iron-nickel diffusion layer formed on the steel sheet, and a nickel layer formed on the iron-nickel diffusion layer (and constituting the outermost layer, wherein when the Fe intensity and the Ni intensity are continuously measured from the surface of the surface-treated steel sheet for a battery container along the depth direction with a high frequency glow discharge optical emission spectrometric analyzer, the thickness of the iron-nickel diffusion layer being the difference between the depth at which the Fe intensity exhibits a first predetermined value and the depth at which the Ni intensity exhibits a second predetermined value is 0.04 to 0.31 μm; and the total amount of the nickel contained in the iron-nickel diffusion layer and the nickel contained in the nickel layer is 4.4 g/m.sup.2 or more and less than 10.8 g/m.sup.2.

A steel member, a hot-rolled steel sheet to be used as a material thereof, and production methods therefor are provided. A steel member contains 0.010% to 0.120% Ti, in which 0.005% or more of Ti is precipitated as a precipitate having a particle size of 20 nm or less in the microstructure. A hot-rolled steel sheet for the steel member contains 0.010% to 0.120% Ti, in which 0.005% or more of Ti is present as dissolved Ti in the microstructure. A method for producing the steel member includes subjecting a hot-rolled steel sheet to forming processing and then performing heat treatment including heating to a temperature of higher than 550° C. and 1,050° C. or lower and then cooling at an average cooling rate of 10° C./s or more in the temperature range of 550° C. to 400° C.