A view on the strategy in the processing of hot rolled dual phase steels

As already intensive studies related to the processing of hot rolled dual phase steels have been reported in the past, the aim of this particular paper is to present some details within a processing strategy, that can be considered as useful for the processing of other special steel types. It will be shown that based on fundamental dilatometric measurements performed in the laboratory, a narrow window of processing parameters can be focused at. Moreover, practical dilatometric curves are shown, taking into account the transformation heat release in the arrested cooling zone (dry section), as to be considered regarding the industrial practice. Furthermore, by introducing a slab insert technique within the development schedule, not only time consuming research can be limited, especially main objectives can be achieved. Some of these objectives are: a) a simultaneous study of the influences of the chemical composition of the steels, b) a close control of the thermomechanical parameters encountered in the industrial environment, such as rolling reductions, strain rate and inter pass time conditions, c) a check of the homogeneity of mechanical properties versus the coil length