Processes for making steel products

Abstract

Processes for making steel products. In some embodiments, the process can include passing a heated steel billet through a rolling mill to form the steel billet into the steel product. The steel product can be at a temperature of at least 800°C upon exiting the rolling mill. The process can also include contacting the steel product with a quench medium to produce a quenched steel product. The quenched steel product can be at a temperature in a range from about 300°C to about 500°C. The process can also include cooling the quenched steel product to ambient temperature to produce a final steel product. An azole compound can be applied to the steel product during contact with the quench medium, applied to the quenched steel product, or a combination thereof and / or a nitrite compound can be applied to the quenched steel product.

Description

DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTPROCESSES FOR MAKING STEEL PRODUCTSFIELD

[0001] Embodiments described generally relate to processes for making steel products. More particularly, such embodiments relate to processes for making steel products that exhibit a reduced rate of corrosion during storage thereof.BACKGROUND

[0002] Steel products, e.g., a steel reinforcement bar or simply rebar, typically includes a tertiary oxide layer, often referred to as “mill scale”, that forms on the surface of the steel product during manufacture thereof. More particularly, the mill scale forms on the surface during the hot-rolling process. The mill scale layer, if undamaged, could serve as a protective layer for the steel product from environmental factors, e.g., moisture and air, which cause the product to corrode. The tertiary oxide layer, however, is highly susceptible to being damaged during processing of the steel product. With the tertiary oxide layer typically being damaged, a high percentage of manufactured steel products, e.g., rebar, will often begin to corrode during storage while awaiting sale to an end user. Corroded steel products, especially rebar, are often rejected by end users, which renders the steel products difficult to sell or, at a minimum, undesirably devalued.

[0003] There is a need, therefore, for improved processes for making steel products that exhibit a reduced rate of corrosion during storage thereof.SUMMARY

[0004] Processes for making steel products are provided. In some embodiments, the process for making a steel product can include passing a heated steel billet through a rolling mill to form the steel billet into the steel product. The steel product can be at a temperature of at least 800°C upon exiting the rolling mill. The steel product can be contacted with a quench medium to produce a quenched steel product. The quenched steel product can be at a temperature in a range from about 300°C to about 500°C. The quenched steel product can be cooled to ambient temperature to produce a final steel product. In some embodiments, an azole compound can be applied to the steel product during contact with the quench medium, applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°C, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, a nitrite compound can be applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°C. In still other embodiments, an azole compound can be applied to the steel product during contact with the quench medium, applied to theDOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTquenched steel product at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°C, or a combination thereof, and a nitrite compound can be applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°C.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] It has been discovered that an azole compound, a nitrite compound, or both an azole compound and a nitrite compound can be applied to the surface of a steel product during the manufacture thereof. More particularly, it has been discovered that the azole compound and / or the nitrite compound can be applied to the surface of the steel product during the manufacture thereof while the steel product is at a relatively elevated temperature, e.g., about 300°C or more. The application of the azole compound and / or the nitrite compound to the surface of the steel product has been found to significantly slow or prevent corrosion, e.g., rusting, of the surface of the steel product during storage thereof under a wide range of environmental conditions. As such, the steel product treated with the azole compound and / or the nitrite compound, as described herein, can be stored under various environmental conditions while waiting to be sold to a user that will utilize the steel product for its intended end purpose.

[0006] During the manufacture of steel products, a steel slab or billet is heated to a relatively high temperature that is above the recrystallization temperature of the steel billet to produce a heated steel billet. In some embodiments, the heated steel billet can be at a temperature in a range of about 925°C, about 975°C, or about 1,025°C to about 1,100°C, about 1,150°C, about 1,200, or about 1,250°C. The heated steel billet can then be fed into a rolling mill to form the steel billet into the desired steel product. The rolling mill can include any type of rolling mill such as a flat rolling mill, a shape rolling mill, bar and wire rod mills, and universal rolling mills. As such, the particular steel product being manufactured can be any type of steel product. Illustrative steel products can include, but are not limited to, a sheet, a plate, a round bar, an angle bar, a flat bar, a pipe, a square bar, a channel bar, a beam, e.g., an I-beam, a wire, a coil, and other shaped products. In at least some embodiments, the steel product can be reinforcing bar, often referred to as “rebar”.

[0007] The particular configuration of the rolling mill can be one of any number of configurations and can depend on the particular steel product being manufactured. In some embodiments, the rolling mill can include a roughing mill that typically includes a series of large heavy-duty rolls that can reduce the thickness and / or cross-sectional area of the steel billet and begin to shape the steel billet into a rough form or first intermediate product. In some embodiments, the rough formed or first intermediate product can be passed through an intermediate mill that can shape the first intermediate product into a second intermediateDOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTproduct that can have the desired final dimensions. The second intermediate product can then be passed through a finishing mill that can apply a desired final finish to the second intermediate product to produce the desired steel product. For example, when making rebar, the finishing mill can roll the rib profile onto the second intermediate product to produce the rebar having the final outer profile.

[0008] The steel product, upon exiting the rolling mill can be at a temperature of at least 800°C. The particular temperature the steel product can be at upon exiting the rolling mill can vary based, at least in part, on the particular steel product being made, the initial temperature the steel billet was at when introduced into the rolling mill, and the particular configuration of the rolling mill. In some embodiments, the steel product can be at a temperature in a range from about 800°C, about 875°C, or about 950°C to about 1,000°C, about 1,075°C upon exiting the rolling mill.

[0009] Upon exiting the rolling mill, the steel product can be directed toward a quenching station where the steel product can be contacted with a quench medium to produce a quenched or first quenched steel product. In some embodiments, the quench medium can be or can include, but is not limited to, water, oil, a molten salt or salt bath, and / or a gas, e.g., nitrogen.

[0010] The quench medium can be contacted with the steel product via any suitable process. In some embodiments, the steel product can be contacted with the quench medium via spraying, falling film or curtain coating, dipping, soaking, or any other suitable application process. In some embodiments, the steel product can be quenched within what is typically called a quench box that can quench the steel product by applying pressurized water via a nozzle system.

[0011] Quenching the steel product can convert the outer surface of the steel product to martensite, which is a hard form of steel. As such, the surface of the quenched steel product becomes hardened and relatively cold while the center of the quenched steel product remains relatively hot. In some embodiments, a surface temperature of the steel product upon entry into the quenching station can be reduced from a temperature of about 800°C to about 500°C to a temperature in a range from about 400°C to about 100°C in less than 5 seconds, less than 4 seconds, less than 3 seconds, less than 2 seconds, or less than 1 second. Accordingly, upon leaving the quenching station, a temperature gradient is formed through the cross-section of the quenched steel product and heat will transfer from the center of the quenched steel product to the outer surface of the steel product. This heat transfer tempers the outer martensite layer into a structure called tempered martensite and forms an intermediate ring of martensite and bainite. The center of the steel product remains in an austenitic state. In some embodiments, when the quenched steel product exits the quenching station, the temperature of the surface ofDOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTthe quenched steel product can be in a range from about 400°C to about 100°C and the core or center of the quenched steel product can be at a temperature in a range from about 800°C to about 500°C. The heat can flow from the center to the surface such that the quenched steel product has a generally uniform temperature from the center thereof to the surface thereof in a relatively short period of time, e.g., in about 20 seconds or less. As such, the quenched or first quenched steel product can be at a relatively uniform temperature in a range from about 300°C, about 340°C, or about 380°C to about 420°C, about 460°C, or about 500°C after exiting the quenching station generally in less than 20 seconds.

[0012] The quenched steel product, upon exiting the quenching station, can be subjected to atmospheric cooling to cool the quenched steel product to ambient temperature to produce the final steel product. In some embodiments, the quenched steel product can be sent to what is typically referred to as a cooling bed. During cooling of the quenched steel product to atmospheric temperature, the austenitic center of the steel product transforms into a ductile ferrite-pearlite structure.

[0013] In some embodiments, upon exiting the quenching station, the quenched steel product can be cut or sheared to a desired length. For example, when the steel product is rebar, the rebar can be cut to a desired length as the quenched rebar exits the quenching station.

[0014] As noted above, an azole compound and / or a nitrite compound can be applied to the steel structure when the steel structure is at a temperature of at least 300°C. In some embodiments, the azole compound can be applied to the steel structure when the steel structure is contacted with the quench medium. For example, in some embodiments, the azole compound can be mixed with the quench medium, e.g., water, and applied to the steel structure as a component of the quench medium within the quenching station, e.g., the quench box. In other embodiments, the azole compound can be applied to the quenched steel structure upon exiting the quenching station when the quenched steel structure is at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C. In still other embodiments, the azole compound can be applied to the steel structure within the quenching station and to the quenched steel structure upon exiting the quenching station when the quenched steel structure is at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C.

[0015] In some embodiments, the nitrite compound can be contacted with the quenched steel structure upon exiting the quenching station when the quenched steel structure is at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C. In other embodiments, the azole compound can be applied to the steel structure during contact with the quench medium and / or applied to the quenched steel structure at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°CDOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTand the nitrite compound can be applied to the quenched steel structure at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°C. In still other embodiments, the azole compound can be applied to the steel structure during contact with the quench medium and the nitrite compound can be applied to the quenched steel structure at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°C.

[0016] In some embodiments, when the azole compound and the nitrite compound are both applied to the quenched steel structure at the temperature in the range from 300°C to 500°C, the azole compound and the nitrite compound can be applied separately or as a mixture. In some embodiments, the azole compound and the nitrite compound can be in the form of an aqueous mixture that can be applied to the quenched steel product.

[0017] When the azole compound is applied to the steel product when the steel product is contacted with the quench medium and / or to the quenched steel product and the nitrite compound is applied to the quenched steel product, the amount of the azole compound and the amount of the nitrite compound applied to the steel product can be the same or different with respect to one another. In some embodiments, when both the azole compound an the nitrite compound are applied to the steel product, the amount of the azole compound applied thereto can be in a range from 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 10 wt%, 25 wt%, 50 wt%, 75 wt%, 90 wt%, 95 wt%, 99 wt%, or 99.5 wt%, based on the combined weight of the azole compound and the nitrite compound.

[0018] In some embodiments, an amount of any azole compound and any nitrite compound applied to the steel product can be sufficient to provide a layer or coating having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 μm, about 0.5 μm, about 1 μm, or about 2 μm to about 3 μm, about 5 μm, about 10 μm, about 12 μm, or more.

[0019] In some embodiments, the azole compound can be or can include, but is not limited to, sodium benzotriazole; sodium tolyltriazole; 1,2,3-triazole; triazol-dicarbonic acid; butyl ether of triazol-dicarbonic acid; ]V-( I H-benzotriazol- 1 -yJtnethyl)-formamide; 1Zf-benzo-triazole-l - methanol; ethyl- 1 -benzyl -5 -methyl- 1H - 1,2,3 -triazole-4-carboxylate; 1, 1 ’ -(4,4’ -Sulfonyl bis(4,lphenylene)) bis (177-l,2,3-triazoIe-4,5-di carboxylic acid); dimethyl-l-(4-sulfamoyl-phenyl)-l / f-l,2,3-triaz.ole-4,5-dicarboxylate; 2-[4-(2-amino-2-benzyloxycafbonyl-ethoxymethyl)-[ 1,2,3]triazol- l-yl]-3-phenyl-propionic acid methyl ester; 1 -(( 1 -4- bromobenzyl-l / / -l,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyi)pyrimidine-2,4(l / f,3 / f)-dione; 4-{4-[(4-«. dodecyloxy-meth l-l / / -l,2,3-tria-zol-l-yl)p-D-glucopyranosd-6-yloxy]methyl-IH-l,2,3-triazol- 1 -yl } benzenesulfonamide; l-benzyl-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-l#-l,2,3-triazole; 4,5-diethyl l-[(4-ethyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-l,3-oxazol-4-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro- 1H-1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylate; l,3-bis((l -benzyl- 1 / / -1, 2, 3-triazol-4-yl)niethyl)pyrimidiiie-2,4-DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENT(lZf,3 / / )-dione; ethyl 4-(4-((l-(4-chlorobenzyl)-l / 7-l,2,3-triazoI-4-yl)methoxy)phenyl)-6- methyl-2oxo-l,2,3,4- ietrahydro-pyrimidine-5-carboxylale; 1 -[( 1 -benzyl- 1 / f-l,2,.3-t.riazol-4-yl )methyI]-2- 1 ( 1 -benzyl- 1 H~ 1,2,3-tiazol-4-yl)meihylthio]- 1 H-benzimi dazole; 2- { [ 1 -(4- fluorobenzyl)-lH-l,2,3-triazol-4-ylj methylthio}-lH-benzimidazole; 7-((l-(4-bromobenzyl)-1H- 1,2,3-triazol-4-yl) methyl)- 1,3-diniethyl-3,7-dihydro- l / Z-pu-rine-2, 6-dione; 1 -(4- iodobenzyl)-4-phenoxymethyl-lH-l,2,3-triazole; l-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-l H-l,2,3-triazoIe-4- yljmethanol; 1 -benzyl- 1 / 7-1, 2, 3-triazo1e-4-y1)methanol; 1 -( 1 -benzyl- 177-[1,2,3] triazol- 4ylmethyl)-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(2-oxo-2-phenyl~ethyl)-l,3-dihydro-indol-2-one; 1 ■( 1 -(4-aminophenyl)-5-methyI-l H-l,2,3-triazo1-4-yl)ethanol; l-benzyl-4-phenyl-l H-l,2,3-triazole;[3-(4-phenyl-[l,2,3]triazol-l-yl)-propyl]-phosphonic acid diethyl ester; [3-[4-(4-dhnethylaniino-phenyl)-[l,2,3]triazol-l-yl]-propyl-phosphonic acid diethyl ester; methyl 2-(benzanido)-2-(4-phenyI-1H-l, 2, 3-triazol-l-yl) acetate; ethyl 2-(be-nzamido)-2-(4-p-tolyl- 1 / 7-1, 2, 3-triazol-l-yl) acetate; 1-p-tolyl-l W-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl) methanol, or a mixture thereof. In at least some embodiments, the azole compound can be or can include, but is not limited to, sodium benzo riazole.

[0020] As noted above, in some embodiments, the azole compound can be in the form of an aqueous solution when contacted with the steel product. In some embodiments, when the azole compound is in the form of an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution can include about 0.001 wt%, about 0.01 wt%, about 0.1 wt%, about 0.4 wt%, about 0.7 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 1.3 wt%, about 1.5 wt%, or about 1.7 wt% to about 2 wt%, about 2.5 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 5 wt%, or about 6 wt% of the azole compound(s), based on a total weight of the aqueous solution.

[0021] In some embodiments, the nitrite compound can be or can include, but is not limited to, sodium nitrite, diisopropylamine nitrite, morpholine nitrite, dicyclohexylamine nitrite, dicyclohexylamine, calcium nitrite, or a mixture thereof. In at least some embodiments, the nitrite compound can be or can include sodium nitrite.

[0022] As noted above, in some embodiments, the nitrite compound can be in the form of an aqueous solution when contacted with the steel product. In some embodiments, when the nitrite compound is in the form of an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution can include about 0.001 wt%, about 0.01 wt%, about 0.1 wt%, about 0.4 wt%, about 0.7 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 1.3 wt%, about 1.5 wt%, or about 1.7 wt% to about 2 wt%, about 2.5 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 5 wt%, or about 6 wt% of the nitrite compound(s), based on a total weight of the aqueous solution.DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENT

[0023] In some embodiments, the nitrite compound can also be mixed with one or more base or caustic compounds and / or one or more borate compounds. In some embodiments, the caustic compound can be or can include, but is not limited to, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the borate compound can be or can include, but is not limited to, sodium tetraborate, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the nitrite compound can be mixed with one or more base or caustic compounds, one or more borate compounds, and / or one or more azole compounds. In some embodiments, the nitrite compound can be mixed with water, sodium hydroxide, sodium tetraborate, and sodium tolyltriazole. In some embodiments, if present, the base compound can be present in an amount of about 3 wt%, about 5 wt%, or about 8 wt% to about 12 wt%, about 15 wt%, or about 17 wt%, based on the weight of the nitrite compound. In some embodiments, if present, the borate compound can be present in an amount of about 0.5 wt%, about 0.7 wt% or about 1 wt% to about 1.5 wt%, about 2 wt%, or about 3 wt%, based on the weight of the nitrite compound. In some embodiments, if present, the azole compound can be present in an amount of about 1 wt%, about 1.5 wt%, about 2 wt%, about 2.5 wt%, or about 3 wt% to about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 4.5 wt%, or about 5 wt%, based on the weight of the nitrite compound.

[0024] As noted above, in some embodiments, an aqueous mixture that includes the azole compound and the nitrite compound can be applied to the quenched steel structure at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C. In such embodiments, the aqueous mixture can include about 0.001 wt%, about 0.01 wt%, about 0.1 wt%, about 0.4 wt%, about 0.7 wt%, about 1 wt%, about 1.3 wt%, about 1.5 wt%, or about 1.7 wt% to about 2 wt%, about 2.5 wt%, about 3 wt%, about 3.5 wt%, about 4 wt%, about 5 wt%, or about 6 wt% of a combined amount of the azole compound and the nitrite compound, based on a total weight of the aqueous solution.Examples

[0025] In order to provide a better understanding of the foregoing discussion, the following non-limiting examples are offered. Although the examples are directed to specific embodiments, they are not to be viewed as limiting the invention in any specific respect. All parts, proportions, and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

[0026] Steel rebars that had similar metallurgy to one another were procured from a vendor. A first aqueous solution that contained about 1.9 wt% of sodium nitrite was prepared, a second aqueous solution that contained about 2.1 wt% of sodium benzotriazole was prepared, and a third aqueous solution that contained a 1: 1 ratio of the 1.9 wt% sodium nitrite solution and the 2.1 wt% sodium benzotriazole solution was prepared. The first and second solutions wereDOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTprepared by diluting NALCO® TRAC 109 (active ingredient was sodium nitrite, CAS No.7632-00-0) and 3D TRASAR® 3DT199 (active ingredient was sodium benzotriazole, CAS No. 15217-42-2), both available from Nalco Company, with water to produce the solutions having the desired concentration of the active ingredient. The third solution was prepared by mixing equal amounts of the first and second solutions.

[0027] Untreated rebars and rebars treated with one of the aqueous solutions were subjected to corrosion studies. As noted above, upon making rebar and other steel products, such steel products typically begin to start corroding, e.g., rusting, within a few weeks, depending on the specific environmental conditions, e.g., the amount of humidity and the salinity level. As such, the corrosion studies followed one of two different approaches, i.e., a non- accelerated study (Example I) and an accelerated study (Example II).

[0028] Example I: Non- Accelerated Study. Four rebars were evaluated. More particularly, a comparative example that used an untreated rebar (Comparative Example 1), a first inventive example that used a rebar treated with the first aqueous solution (Example 1), a second inventive example that used a rebar treated with the second aqueous solution (Example 2), and a third inventive example that used a rebar treated with the third aqueous solution (Example 3).

[0029] The treated rebars of Examples 1-3 were each dipped into the first solution, the second solution, and the third solution, respectively, for 10 min, removed from the solution, and allowed to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to 10 minutes. After sitting at room temperature, the rebars were baked in an oven heated to a temperature of about 400°C for about 1 hour and then allowed to cool to room temperature, i.e., about 25°C.

[0030] The rebars of the Comparative Example 1 and Examples 1-3 were all exposed to the same environmental conditions that varied over time for a total period of 30 days. The various environmental conditions included storage at room temperature, i.e., about 25°C, under sunlight, covered with a tarpaulin under sunlight, humid conditions, and elevated temperature, i.e., about 100°C.

[0031] After 30 days the rebar samples were evaluated. More particularly, after 30 days the formation of rust was observed on the rebar of Comparative Example 1. In contrast, however, after 30 days no rust formation was observed on the rebars of Examples 1-3 that had been treated with the first, second, and third aqueous solution, respectively.

[0032] Example II: Accelerated Testing. Two rebars were tested. More particularly, a comparative example that used an untreated rebar (Comparative Example 2) and another rebar that had sections thereof that had been treated and sections thereof that had not been treatedDOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENT(Example 4). The treated rebar of Example 4 was prepared according to the following procedure. The first aqueous solution (1.9 wt% sodium nitrite) was applied to a first section of the rebar (Example 4a) via a brush and the second aqueous solution (2.1 wt% sodium benzotriazole) was applied to a second section of the rebar (Example 4b) via a brush with an untreated section of the rebar (Comparative Example 3) located between the sections the first and second aqueous solutions were applied. Upon application of the first and second aqueous solutions, the rebar of Example 4 was allowed to sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes and was then baked in an oven heated to a temperature of about 400°C for about 1 hour and then allowed to cool to room temperature, i.e., about 25°C.

[0033] The rebars of Comparative Example 2 and Example 4 were then subjected to an accelerated corrosion test as follows. The two rebars were placed in 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solutions and allowed to sit therein for seven days. After the seven days, the two rebars were evaluated. More particularly, after seven days, a heavy formation of rust was observed on the rebar of Comparative Example 2 that was untreated as well as the untreated section on the rebar of Example 4, i.e., Comparative Example 3. In contrast however, the section of the rebar of Example 4 that was treated with the 2.1 wt% sodium benzotriazole solution (Example 4b) exhibited only a very minor amount of rust formation about only a portion thereof and the section of the rebar of Example 4 that was treated with the 1.9 wt% sodium nitrite solution (Example 4a) did not show any noticeable rust formation.

[0034] Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set of numerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should be appreciated that ranges including the combination of any two values, e.g., the combination of any lower value with any upper value, the combination of any two lower values, and / or the combination of any two upper values are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lower limits, upper limits and ranges appear in one or more claims below. All numerical values are "about" or "approximately" the indicated value, and take into account experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

[0035] Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Furthermore, all patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in this application are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this application and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENT

[0036] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTClaims:What is claimed is:

1. A process for making a steel product, comprising:passing a heated steel billet through a rolling mill to form the steel billet into the steel product, wherein the steel product is at a temperature of at least 800°C upon exiting the rolling mill;contacting the steel product with a quench medium to produce a quenched steel product, wherein the quenched steel product is at a temperature in a range from about 300°C to about 500°C; andcooling the quenched steel product to ambient temperature to produce a final steel product, wherein:an azole compound is applied to the steel product during contact with the quench medium, applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C, or a combination thereof, ora nitrite compound is applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C, oran azole compound is applied to the steel product during contact with the quench medium, applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C, or a combination thereof, and a nitrite compound is applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500 °C.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the azole compound is applied to at least one of the steel product during contact with the quench medium and the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the azole compound comprises sodium benzotriazole; sodium tolyltriazole; 1,2,3-triazole; triazol-di carbonic acid; butyl ether of triazol-dicarbonic acid; HlH-benzotriazol- 1 -•ylmethyl)-formamide; l / Z-benzo-triazole-l-methanol; ethyl- 1- benzyl-5-methyl- IB- 1,2,3-triazole-4-carbox late; 1,1’ -(4,4’ -Sulfonyl bis(4, 1 phenylene)) bis (1 H-,2,3-triazole-4,5-di carboxylic acid); dimethyl- 1 -(4-sulfamoyl-phenyl)-l Zf-1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylale; 2-[4-(2-amino-2-benzyloxycarbonyl-ethoxymethyl)-[l,2,3]triazol- l-ylJ.-3-phenyl-propionic acid methyl ester; l-((l-4-bromobenzyl-lH-l,2,3-triazol-4-DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENTyl)medtyl)pyrimidine-2, 4(1 / 7, 377)-dione; 4-{4-[(4-n-dodecyloxy-methyl-l / 7-l,2,3-tria-zol-l-yl)P-D-glucopyranosd-6-y]oxy]methyl-l / 7-l,2,3-lriazol-l-yl) benzenesulfonamide; 1-benzyl-4-(2-methoxypheoyl)-l / 7-1,2,3-triazole; 4,5-diethyll-[(4-ethyl-2-pheoyl-4,5-dihydro-l,3- oxazol-4-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-l / 7-l,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylate; l,3-bis((l-benzyl-177- 1.2.3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)pyrimidine-2,4-(lJZ, 3 / -J)-dione; ethyl 4-(4-((l-(4-chlorobenzyl)-l / 7- 1.2.3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)phenyl)-6-methyl-2oxo-l,2,3,4- letrahydro-pyrimidine-5-carboxylate; l-[(l-benzyl-l 77-1, 2, 3-triazol-4-yl)methyl]-2-[(l -benzyl- 1 / 7- 1,2, 3-lriazol-4-yl)methylthio]- 1 / / -benzimidazole; 2- { [1 -(4-fluorobenzyl)- 1 H-,2,3-triazol -4-yl] methylthio } ■ 1 / / -benzimidazole; 7-((l-(4-bromobenzyl)-l / / -l,2,3-triazol-4-yl) methyl)-!, 3-dimethy 1-3,7-dihydro-1 / / -pu-rine-2, 6-dione; l-(4-iodobenzy1)-4-phenoxymelity 1-177-1, 2, 3-triazole; 1 -(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)- 1 / 7- 1,2,3 -triazole-4-yDmethanol; 1 -benzyl- 1 / 7- 1,2,3 -triazole-4- yDmethanol; 1-(1 -benzyl-! / / -[!, 2, 3] triazol-4ylmeChyl)-3-hydroxy-5-me-thyl-3-(2-oxo-2- phenyl-ethyl)-l,3-dihydro-indol-2-one: 1-(1 -(4-aminophenyl)-5-methy 1-1 / 7- 1,2, 3-triazol-4- yl)ethanol; l-benzyl-4-phenyl- 1 / 7-1,2, -triazole; [3-(4-phenyI-[ 1,2,3]triazol-l -yl)-propyl]- phosphonic acid diethyl ester; 13 [4-(4-diniethylaniino-phenyl)-[ 1,2,3 jtriazol-1 -yl]-propyl-phosphonic acid diethyl ester: methyl 2-(benzanido)-2-(4-phenyl- 1 / 7-1, 2, 3-tri zol-l-yl) acetate; ethyl 2-(benzamido)-2-(4-p-tolyl-17 / -l, 2, 3-triazol-l-yl) acetate; 1-p-tolyl-l / / -I,2,3-triazol-4-yl) methanol, or a mixture thereof.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein the azole compound comprises sodium benzotriazole.

5. The process of claim 2, wherein the azole compound is in the form of an aqueous solution.

6. The process of claim 2, wherein the azole compound comprises sodium benzotriazole, and wherein the azole compound is in the form of an aqueous solution.

7. The process of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the nitrite compound is applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the nitrite compound comprises diisopropylamine nitrite, morpholine nitrite, dicyclohexylamine nitrite, dicyclohexylamine, calcium nitrite, sodium nitrite, or a mixture thereof.DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENT9. The process of claim 7, wherein the nitrite compound comprises sodium nitrite.

10. The process of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the nitrite compound is in the form of an aqueous solution.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the azole compound is applied to at least one of the steel product during contact with the quench medium and the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C, and wherein the nitrite compound is applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein an aqueous mixture comprising the azole compound and the nitrite compound is applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the azole compound comprises sodium benzotriazole and the nitrite compound comprises sodium nitrite.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein the azole compound is applied to the steel product during contact with the quench medium, and wherein the nitrite compound is applied to the quenched steel product at the temperature in the range from about 300°C to about 500°C.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the azole compound comprises sodium benzotriazole and the nitrite compound comprises sodium nitrite.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the azole compound is applied to the steel product during contact with the quench medium by contacting the steel product with a mixture comprising the azole compound and the quench medium.

17. The process of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the quench medium comprises water.

18. The process of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the quenched steel product is cooled to ambient temperature via atmospheric cooling.DOCKET No.: N12116WO01 PATENT19. The process of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the final steel product is a sheet, a plate, a round bar, an angle bar, a flat bar, a pipe, a square bar, a channel bar, a beam, a wire, or a coil.

20. The process of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the final steel product is a reinforcing bar.