Steel Sheet Production via P and S Composition Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing cold-rolled steel sheets with excellent workability suffer from issues such as increased skinpass rolling reduction, degradation due to oxide inclusions, non-uniform heat transfer, and neglect of planar anisotropy and surface properties.

Innovation Solution

A steel sheet composition with specific elements like P, S, and controlled cold-rolling and heating rates, along with precise annealing processes, is used to achieve a tensile strength of 340 MPa or more, excellent workability, and improved surface properties, while maintaining low planar anisotropy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If skinpass rolling reduction ratio is increased to improve surface quality, then surface properties are improved, but workability degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidworkability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the steel sheet, specifically controlling P content at 0.003-0.015% and S content at 0.003-0.015%, to achieve both improved surface quality and maintained workability without requiring excessive skinpass rolling reduction ratio

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If oxide inclusions are controlled through MnS size, then inclusion quality is improved, but oxygen content must be 60 ppm or more causing large quantities of oxide inclusions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinclusion qualityVSAvoidoxide inclusion quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the compositional parameters by precisely controlling P and S content within 0.003-0.015% ranges, which fundamentally alters the inclusion formation mechanism and reduces oxide inclusion quantity while maintaining quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the traditionally harmful P and S elements, when present in controlled amounts of 0.003-0.015%, into beneficial components that improve surface quality and workability simultaneously, rather than viewing them merely as impurities to be eliminated

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If heat transfer is increased during annealing to improve processing speed, then productivity is improved, but heat transfer becomes non-uniform throughout the steel sheet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveannealing speedVSAvoidheat transfer uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters (P: 0.003-0.015%, S: 0.003-0.015%) that affect the material's thermal and mechanical properties, enabling uniform microstructure development during annealing that ensures both speed and uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Strength

If cold-rolling reduction ratio is increased to improve strength, then tensile strength is improved, but planar anisotropy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidplanar anisotropy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters, specifically controlling P and S content at 0.003-0.015%, which influences the microstructure formation during cold-rolling to achieve high strength while minimizing planar anisotropy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method produces steel sheets with enhanced workability, surface quality, and planar anisotropy, suitable for applications like automobile structural elements, leading to improved fuel efficiency through weight reduction.

Implementation Method 1

cold-rolling a steel sheet at a rolling reduction ratio of 50% or more

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

regulating the cooling conditions and the overaging conditions after annealing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnealing: Annealing

Data Source

PatentUS11965222B2Method for producing hot-rolled steel sheet and method for producing cold-rolled full hard steel sheet
Publication Date: 2024.04.23 JFE STEEL CORP

AI summary

A method of producing a hot-rolled steel sheet and a method for producing a cold-rolled full hard steel sheet are provided. The methods comprising heating a steel slab having a composition containing, in terms of mass %, C: 0.010% or more and 0.150% or less, Si: 0.20% or less, Mn: 1.00% or less, P: 0.100% or less, S: 0.0500% or less, Al: 0.001% or more and 0.100% or less, N: 0.0100% or less, and the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, in which 0.002%≤[% P]+[% S]≤0.070% ([% M] denotes a content (mass %) of M element in steel) is satisfied.