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Method of fabricating metal parts of different ductilities

  • US 20040060623A1
  • Filed: 02/26/2003
  • Published: 04/01/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A method of producing a hardened metal article with at least two regions of different ductility including at least one first region with higher ductility and at least one second region of lower ductility, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) heating a metal slab or preformed metal part constituting a workpiece to an austenitization temperature;

    (b) thereafter transporting said workpiece over a transport path and during transport of the workpiece along said path subjecting said first region to cooling by;

    (b1) quenching said first region from a predetermined cooling start temperature (Tstart) lying above a γ



    transformation temperature of the workpiece, (b2) terminating the quenching when a predetermined cooling stop temperature (Tstop) is reached which lies above the martensitic start temperature and prior to any transformation into ferritic or perlitic structures or prior to any but a slight transformation into ferritic or perlitic structures, and (b3) then maintaining the workpiece approximately under an isothermal condition for conversion of austentite in the structure of the workpiece to at least one structure selected from the group consisting of ferrite and perlite;

    (c) during step (b) maintaining said second region at a hardening temperature (TH) at least sufficient for martensite formation in said second region; and

    (d) then effecting a hardening process for said workpiece during transport thereof along said path.

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