Method of producing a cold temperature high toughness structural steel

• US 20050061404A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Erike, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 148/546
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 8/10 during manufacturing of tubular bodies
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/08 for tubular bodies or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/04 containing manganese
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/18 containing chromium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/16 constructed of plastics materials shaping of plastics B29C
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0104 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0119 with flat end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0138 tubular
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0617 with one layer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0648 Alloys or compositions of metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0314 breakable, e.g. with burst discs
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/221 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/222 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/23 Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/014 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/016 : Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/017 : Helium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/03 : Mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 : Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 : Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/036 : Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0332 : by burning a combustible
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/03 : Control means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/011 : Improving strength
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/032 : Avoiding freezing or defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/053 : Reducing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0772 : Inflation devices, e.g. for rescue vests or tyres

Abstract

An apparatus includes a low-carbon steel member. The low-carbon steel member yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −40° C. when stress is applied to the low-carbon steel member sufficient to cause the low-carbon steel member to so yield.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a low-carbon steel member, the low-carbon steel member yielding plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −

40°

C. when stress sufficient to cause the low-carbon steel member to so yield is applied to the low-carbon steel member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the low-carbon steel member comprising an SAE-AISI 1010 grade carbon steel wherein the composition is controlled so that the weight percent of carbon does not exceed about 0.12%, the weight percent of sulfur does not exceed about 0.015%, the weight percent of phosphorous does not exceed about 0.020%, the weight percent of chromium does not exceed 1.30%, the weight percent of molybdenum does not exceed about 0.60%, and the combined weight percent of phosphorous and sulfur does not exceed about 0.025%.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the low-carbon steel member consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.12% carbon, about 0.70% to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.020% phosphorous, up to about 0.015% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, about 0.25% to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.05% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the low-carbon steel member having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the low-carbon steel member consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.20% carbon, up to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.030% phosphorous, up to about 0.025% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, up to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, up to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.10% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, the low-carbon steel member having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.

7. An apparatus comprising a low-carbon steel member, the low-carbon steel member having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, an elongation at break of at least about 14%, and yielding plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −

40°

C. when stress sufficient to cause the low-carbon steel member to so yield is applied to the low-carbon steel member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the low-carbon steel member comprising an SAE-AISI 1010 grade carbon steel wherein the composition is controlled so that the weight percent of carbon does not exceed about 0.12%, the weight percent of sulfur does not exceed about 0.015%, the weight percent of phosphorous does not exceed about 0.020%, the weight percent of chromium does not exceed about 1.30%, the weight percent of molybdenum does not exceed about 0.60%, and the combined weight percent of phosphorous and sulfur does not exceed about 0.025%.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, the low-carbon steel member consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.20% carbon, up to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.030% phosphorous, up to about 0.025% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, up to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, up to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.10% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, the low-carbon steel member consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.12% carbon, about 0.70% to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.020% phosphorous, up to about 0.015% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, about 0.25% to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.05% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

11. A method comprising the steps of:

casting a billet of low-carbon steel;

forming a low-carbon steel member form the cast billet of low-carbon steel,

cold working the low-carbon steel member after forming the low-carbon steel member but prior to finishing the low-carbon steel member; and

heat treating the low-carbon steel member after cold working the low-carbon steel member but prior to finishing the low-carbon steel member so that the low-carbon steel member yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −

40°

C. when stress sufficient to cause the low-carbon steel member to so yield is applied to the low-carbon steel member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of heat treating comprises heating the low-carbon steel member to a temperature of at least about 900°

C., cooling the low-carbon steel member to room temperature, and tempering the low-carbon steel member to a temperature of at least about 500°

C.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of heat treating comprises induction heating the low-carbon steel member to a temperature of at least about 900°

C. and cooling the low-carbon steel member to room temperature.

14. The method of claim 11, the low-carbon steel comprising an SAE-AISI 1010 grade carbon steel wherein the composition is controlled so that the weight percent of carbon does not exceed about 0.12%, the weight percent of sulfur does not exceed 0.015%, the weight percent of phosphorous does not exceed about 0.020%, the weight percent of chromium does not exceed about 1.30%, the weight percent of molybdenum does not exceed about 0.60%, and the combined weight percent of phosphorous and sulfur does not exceed about 0.025%.

15. The method of claim 11, the low-carbon steel consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.12% carbon, about 0.70% to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.020% phosphorous, up to about 0.015% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, about 0.25% to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.05% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

16. The method of claim 15, the low-carbon steel member having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.

17. The method of claim 11, the low-carbon steel consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.20% carbon, up to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.030% phosphorous, up to about 0.025% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, up to about 0.1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, up to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.10% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

18. The method of claim 17, the low-carbon steel member having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.

19. An apparatus comprising a low-carbon steel tube, the low-carbon steel tube yielding plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −

40°

C. when stress sufficient to cause the low-carbon steel tube to so yield is applied to the low-carbon steel tube.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, the low-carbon steel tube comprising an SAE-AISI 1010 grade carbon steel wherein the composition is controlled so that the weight percent of carbon does not exceed about 0.12%, the weight percent of sulfur does not exceed about 0.015%, the weight percent of phosphorous does not exceed about 0.020%, the weight percent of chromium does not exceed about 1.30%, the weight percent of molybdenum does not exceed about 0.60%, and the combined weight percent of phosphorous and sulfur does not exceed about 0.025%.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, the low-carbon steel tube consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.12% carbon, about 0.70% to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.020% phosphorous, up to about 0.015% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, about 0.25% to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.05% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, the low-carbon steel tube having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, the low-carbon steel tube consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.20% carbon, up to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.030% phosphorous, up to about 0.025% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, up to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, up to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.10% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, the low-carbon steel tube having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.

25. A method comprising the steps of:

casting a billet of low-carbon steel, the billet of low-carbon steel having a first diameter;

reducing the diameter of the billet of low-carbon steel by hot-rolling the billet;

forming a tube having an annular wall by piercing the billet;

reducing the thickness of the annular wall to a first thickness by cold drawing the tube;

heat treating the tube after the cold drawing to form a low-carbon steel tube that yields plastically more than about 5% before fracturing at temperatures down to about −

40°

C. when stress sufficient to cause the low-carbon steel tube to so yield is applied to the low-carbon steel tube.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of heat treating comprises heating the tube to a temperature of at least about 900°

C., cooling the tube to room temperature, and tempering the tube to a temperature of at least about 500°

C.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of heat treating comprises induction heating the tube to a temperature of at least about 900°

C. and cooling the tube to room temperature.

28. The method of claim 25, the low-carbon steel comprising an SAE-AISI 1010 grade carbon steel wherein the composition is controlled so that the weight percent of carbon does not exceed about 0.12%, the weight percent of sulfur does not exceed about 0.015%, the weight percent of phosphorous does not exceed about 0.020%, the weight percent of chromium does not exceed about 1.30%, the weight percent of molybdenum does not exceed about 0.60%, and the combined weight percent of phosphorous and sulfur does not exceed about 0.025%.

29. The method of claim 25, the low-carbon steel consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.12% carbon, about 0.70% to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.020% phosphorous, up to about 0.015% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, about 0.25% to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, about 0.20% to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.05% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

30. The method of claim 29, the low-carbon steel tube having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.

31. The method of claim 25, the low-carbon steel consisting essentially of, by weight, about 0.07% to about 0.20% carbon, up to about 1.60% manganese, up to about 0.030% phosphorous, up to about 0.025% sulfur, about 0.06% to about 0.35% silicon, up to about 1.20% chromium, up to about 0.65% nickel, up to about 0.70% molybdenum, up to about 0.35% copper, about 0.02% to about 0.06% aluminum, up to about 0.10% vanadium, up to about 0.25% residual elements, and the balance iron.

32. The method of claim 31, the low-carbon steel tube having a tensile strength of at least about 130,000 psi, a yield strength of at least about 104,000 psi, and an elongation at break of at least about 14%.