VERFAHREN ZUM WÄRMEBEHANDELN EINES VERFORMBAREN KALTGEWALZTEN STAHLBANDES UND SO ERHALTENES STAHLBAND

Heat treatment of a cold-rolled steel strip involves annealing at a temperature located in the austenitic phase of the steel, cooling to a temperature located in the inter-critical region between the eutectoid and austenitic temperatures, stabilization at the final temperature of cooling, and tempering to ambient temperature. Heat treatment of a cold-rolled steel strip involves heating to an annealing temperature above the A3 temperature, stabilization at the annealing temperature, and tempering at a temperature below the critical temperature of martensitic transformation (Ms). The annealing temperature is above that of austenitic transformation (A3). Between the stabilization and tempering stages, the steel strip is cooled to an intermediate temperature between the A1 and A3 transformation points, and is stabilized at the intermediate temperature. Independent claims are given for: (a) a process for the production of a formable steel strip; and (b) a formable steel strip obtained by the invented processes.