METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HIGH TENSILE STRENGTH THICK STEEL PLATE

Abstract
In a method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate, a steel slab contains 0.03-0.055% of C, 3.0-3.5% of Mn, and 0.002-0.10% of Al, the amount of Mo is limited to 0.03% or less, the amount of Si is limited to 0.09% or less, the amount of V is limited to 0.01% or less, the amount of Ti is limited to 0.003% or less, the amount of B is limited to 0.0003% or less, and of which Pcm value representing a weld cracking parameter is fallen within the range of 0.20-0.24% and DI value representing a hardenability index is fallen within the range of 1.00-2.60, is heated to 950-1100° C. The steel slab is subjected to a rolling process with a cumulative draft of 70-90% when a temperature is in a range of 850° C. or more, and then, the steel slab is subjected to a rolling process at 780° C. or higher with a cumulative draft of 10-40% when a temperature is in a range of 780-830° C., and subsequently, accelerated cooling at a cooling rate of 8-80° C./sec is started from 700° C. or higher and is stopped at a temperature between room temperature and 350° C.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate with a tensile strength of 780 Mpa or more which has high preheating-free weldability and excellent low-temperature toughness of a welded joint with high productivity at low cost without using expensive Ni and requiring a reheating tempering heat treatment after rolling.


Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-061630, filed on Mar. 13, 2009, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-095021, filed on Apr. 1, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.


BACKGROUND ART

High tensile strength steel plates with a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more which are used as welding structural members for construction machines, industrial machines, bridges, buildings, ships and the like are required to have, in addition to compatibility between high strength and high toughness of a base material, high preheating-free high weldability and excellent low-temperature toughness of a welded joint with an increase in the need for constructional members with a high strength and an increase in use in cold regions. In addition, thick steel plates of 780 MPa or more which satisfy all such features and can be manufactured at low cost in a short construction time are required to have a thickness of up to about 40 mm. Therefore, steel plates are required to satisfy all three features, (a) high strength and high toughness of a base material, (b) a preheating-free characteristic in low heat input welding where the heat input amount is 2.0 kJ/mm or less, and (c) low-temperature toughness of a welded joint, with a low-cost component system in a short construction time and low cost manufacturing process.


As a conventional method of manufacturing high tensile strength thick steel plates of 780 MPa or more which have high weldability applied thereto, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a method with direct hardening and tempering, including processes of directly hardening a steel plate in an on-line process immediately after the steel plate is rolled, and subsequently tempering the steel plate.


Regarding methods of manufacturing high tensile strength thick steel plates of 780 MPa or more involving no thermal refining, for example, Patent Documents 4 to 8 disclose manufacturing methods which are excellent in terms of manufacturing time period and productivity from the viewpoint that a reheating tempering heat treatment can be omitted. Among these Patent Documents, Patent Documents 4 to 7 disclose manufacturing methods which use an accelerated cooling mid-course stoppage process in which accelerated cooling after rolling of a steel plate is stopped in mid-course, and Patent Document 8 discloses a manufacturing method in which air cooling is performed after rolling to cool the temperature down to room temperature.

  • Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H03-232923
  • Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H09-263828
  • Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2000-160281
  • Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2000-319726
  • Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2005-15859
  • Patent Document 6: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2004-52063
  • Patent Document 7: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-226740
  • Patent Document 8: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First
  • Publication No. H08-188823







DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problem that the Invention is to Solve

However, in the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the reheating tempering heat treatment is required and thus problems regarding the manufacturing time period, productivity and manufacturing cost may arise. Accordingly, there is a strong demand for a so-called no thermal refining manufacturing method in which the reheating tempering heat treatment can be omitted. In addition, in the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 4, preheating of 50° C. or more is required in welding as described in the embodiments thereof, and thus the high preheating-free weldability requirement cannot be satisfied. Further, in the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 5, since 0.6% or more of Ni is required to be added to the steel plate, the component system becomes expensive and thus a problem regarding the manufacturing cost may arise. In the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 6, steel plates with a thickness of up to 15 mm can be manufactured as described in the embodiments thereof, thus, a demand for a thickness of up to 40 mm cannot be satisfied. Further, even if a steel plate having the thickness of 15 mm is manufactured, the C content is small and thus the microstructure of a welded joint becomes coarse, and there is a problem in that the welded joint cannot obtain sufficient low-temperature toughness. In the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 7, since the addition of about 1.0% of Ni is required as described in the embodiments thereof, the component system becomes expensive and thus a problem regarding manufacturing cost may arise. In the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 8, only the steel plates having a thickness of up to 12 mm can be manufactured as described in the embodiments thereof, thus, a demand for a thickness of up to 40 mm cannot be satisfied. In addition, as a feature of the rolling conditions, rolling is performed in such a manner that a cumulative draft is controlled to be 16-30% in a two-phase temperature range of ferrite and austenite. Accordingly, ferrite grains easily become coarse and thus there are problems in that the strength and the toughness are easily reduced in the manufacturing of the steel plates having a thickness of 12 mm.


As described above, despite the strong consumer demand for a method of manufacturing high tensile strength thick steel plates in which all the requirements of high strength and high toughness of a base material, high weldability and low-temperature toughness of a welded joint can be satisfied in a condition that Ni, which is an expensive alloy element, is not added and that a reheating tempering heat treatment after rolling/cooling is omitted, such method has not yet been developed.


In thick steel plates having a base material strength of 780 MPa or more, the influence of thickness of the steel plates on the preheating-free characteristic is very significant. When the thickness of the steel plate is less than 12 mm, the preheating-free characteristic can be easily achieved. If the thickness of the steel plate is less than 12 mm, a cooling rate of the steel plate during water cooling can be 100° C./sec or more even in a thickness center portion. In this case, the structure of a base material can be converted into a bainite or martensite structure by adding a small amount of alloy element. Then, the base material with the strength of 780 MPa or more can be obtained. Since small additional amount of the alloy element is required, hardness of a weld heat-affected zone can be suppressed at a low level without preheating and weld cracking can thus be prevented even without preheating.


On the other hand, if the thickness of a steel plate is thick, the cooling rate during the water cooling is necessarily reduced. Accordingly, with the same components as those of the thin steel plate, the strength of the thick steel plate is reduced because of insufficient hardening, and the strength requirement of 780 MPa or more cannot be satisfied. Particularly, the strength in the thickness center portion (½t parts) in which the cooling rate becomes minimum is apparently reduced. In the case of manufacturing a thick steel plate with a thickness of more than 40 mm of which a cooling rate is less than 8° C./sec, it is necessary to add a large amount of alloy element to ensure the strength of a base material and thus it is very difficult to achieve the preheating-free characteristic.


Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate with a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more which has excellent weldability and low-temperature toughness and in which all the requirements of high strength and high toughness of a base material, high weldability and low-temperature toughness of a welded joint can be satisfied in conditions that Ni, which is an expensive alloy element, is not added and that a reheating tempering heat treatment after rolling/cooling is omitted.


Concrete features of the steel plate which is a target of the present invention are as follows.


(a) In a thickness center portion of a base material, a tensile strength is 780 MPa or more, and preferably 1000 MPa or less, yield stress is 685 MPa or more, and Charpy absorbed energy at −80° C. is 100 J or more.


(b) A required preheating temperature for preventing weld cracking during a y-type weld cracking test at a room temperature is 25° C. or less, or the preheating is not required.


(c) Charpy absorbed energy of a weld heat-affected zone (HAZ) of a joint subjected to submerged arc welding (SAW) at a welding heat input of 3.0 kJ/mm is 60 J or more at −50° C.


In addition, the steel plate thickness in the range of 12 to 40 mm is a target of the present invention.


Means for Solving the Problem

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present inventors conducted a number of examinations of base materials and welded joints on the basis of the assumption of manufacturing by direct hardening after rolling in a component system in which Ni is not added thereto. There were two problems which were difficult to solve. One is the ensuring of low-temperature toughness of a welded joint without the addition of Ni. Regarding this problem, various examinations were performed on the influence of added components on the toughness of a heat-affected zone (HAZ) of a joint subjected to submerged arc welding (SAW) at a welding heat input of about 3.0 kJ/mm. As a result, it was newly discovered that good welded joint toughness can be obtained at −50° C. without the addition of Ni, only in the case where the C content is strictly regulated to be 0.03% or more and 0.055% or less; the hardenability of the steel which can be evaluated by a hardenability index (DI value) is in an optimum range of 1.00 to 2.60; and none of the five elements Mo, V, Si, Ti and B are added to the steel.


Further, in order to achieve the preheating-free characteristic in low heat input welding such as shielded metal arc, TIG or MIG welding where the heat input amount is 2.0 kJ/mm or less, on the basis of the new knowledge, an examination was performed relating to weldability with the components satisfying the above-described C amount and the range of the DI value without the addition of Ni and the five elements, Mo, V, Si, Ti and B. As a result, it was found that by regulating Pcm value representing weld cracking sensitivity to 0.24% or less, a required preheating temperature for preventing weld cracking during a y-type weld cracking test can be controlled to be 25° C. or less, or the preheating is not required, and the preheating-free characteristic can thus be achieved.


However, the other problem which was difficult to solve was compatibility between base material strength and base material toughness over the whole thickness of up to 40 mm in a thickness direction when assuming that a Pcm value is 0.24% or less. For this, a large amount of Mn, for example in the amount of 3.0% or more, was added, Nb, which is generally effective in obtaining the high strength and the high toughness by making the structure fine, was conversely not added, and 0.20% or more of the Pcm value was satisfied. Moreover, as for the rolling conditions, a cumulative draft in each of two temperature ranges of an austenite recrystallization temperature range of 850° C. or higher, and an austenite unrecrystallization temperature range of 780-830° C. was strictly regulated. Immediately after the rolling, cooling was performed at a cooling rate of 8-80° C./sec, from the temperature of 700° C. or higher down to the temperature between room temperature and 350° C. It was newly discovered that under these conditions, the compatibility requirement between the strength and the toughness of the base material over the whole thickness of up to 40 mm in the thickness direction can be satisfied, that is, requirements of 780 MPa or more of a tensile strength, 685 MPa or more of yield stress and 100 J or more of Charpy absorbed energy at −80° C. can be satisfied.


The present invention is contrived based on the above new knowledge, and the gist of the invention is as follows.


(1) A method of manufacturing a high-tensile strength thick steel plate with a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more, the method including: heating to 950-1100° C. a steel slab or a cast slab having a component composition which includes, in mass %, 0.030-0.055% of C, 3.0-3.5% of Mn, 0.002-0.10% of Al, 0.01% or less of P, 0.0010% or less of S, 0.0060% or less of N, 0.03% or less of Mo, 0.09% or less of Si, 0.01% or less of V, 0.003% or less of Ti, 0.0003% or less of B, 0.003% or less of Nb, and the balance Fe with inevitable impurities, and of which Pcm value representing a weld cracking parameter is fallen within the range of 0.20-0.24% and DI value representing a hardenability index is fallen within the range of 1.00-2.60, wherein when [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cu], [Ni], [Cr], [Mo], [V], [Al] and [B] are the amounts, expressed in mass %, of C, Si, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, V, Al and B respectively, the Pcm value and the DI value are given as follows, Pcm=[C]+[Si]/30+[Mn]/20+[Cu]/20+[Ni]/60+[Cr]/20+[Mo]/15+M/10+5[B], DI=0.367([C]1/2)(1+0.7[Si])(1+3.33[Mn])(1+0.35[Cu])(1+0.36[Ni])(1+2.16[Cr])(1+3.0[Mo])(1+1.75[V])(1+1.77[Al]); performing a first rolling with a cumulative draft of 70-90% when a temperature is in a range of 850° C. or more; performing a second rolling at 780° C. or higher after performing the first rolling, with a cumulative draft of 10-40% when a temperature is in a range of 780-830° C.; starting accelerated cooling at a cooling rate of 8-80° C./sec from 700° C. or higher after performing the second rolling; and stopping the accelerated cooling at a temperature between room temperature and 350° C.


(2) The Method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate according to (1), in which the steel slab or the cast slab further contains one or both of 0.05-0.20% of Cu and 0.05-1.00% of Cr in mass %.


(3) The method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate according to (1), in which the steel slab or the cast slab further contains one or both of 0.0005-0.01% of Mg and 0.0005-0.01% of Ca in mass %.


(4) The method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate according to (1), in which a thick steel plate having a thickness of 12-40 mm is manufactured.


EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a high tensile strength thick steel plate with a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more and a thickness of 12-40 mm, which is suitable as a structural member for welding structures such as construction machines, industrial machines, bridges, buildings, ships and the like strongly requiring high strength and which has excellent preheating-free weldability, can be manufactured with high productivity and low cost without using expensive Ni and without requiring a reheating tempering heat treatment after rolling. The effect thereof on the industrial field is very significant.


BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The steel according to the present invention is used in the form of a thick steel plate with a thickness of 12-40 mm which is used as a structural member for welding structures such construction machines, industrial machines, bridges, buildings, ships and the like. In the present invention, the word of preheating-free indicates that, in “y-type weld cracking test” according to MS Z 3158 using shielded metal arc welding, TIG welding or MIG welding with 2.0 kJ/mm or less of the heat input amount in room temperature, the preheating temperature required for preventing weld cracking is 25° C. or less, or preheating is not needed.


Hereinafter, a description will be given of reasons for limits in components and a manufacturing method in the present invention.


C is an important element in the present invention. In order to satisfy all the requirements of strength and toughness of a base material, high weldability, and low-temperature toughness of a welded joint, it is necessary to strictly regulate the additional amount of C to be fallen within the range of 0.030-0.055%. When the additional amount of C is less than 0.030%, the transformation temperature in cooling becomes high in the base material and a weld heat-affected zone and thus a ferrite structure is generated. Thus, the strength and toughness of the base material and the welded joint toughness are lowered. When the additional amount of C is more than 0.055%, a required preheating temperature in welding exceeds 25° C. and thus the preheating-free requirement cannot be satisfied. In addition, since the weld heat-affected zone is hardened, the welded joint toughness requirement also cannot be satisfied.


Mn is an important element in the present invention. For compatibility between strength and toughness of a base material, a large amount of Mn, for example in an amount of 3.0% or more, is required to be added. When Mn is added in an amount more than 3.5%, coarse MnS is generated which has a harmful effect on the toughness in a center segregation portion, and thus the toughness of the base material in a thickness center portion is reduced. Accordingly, the upper limit thereof is set to 3.5%.


Al is a deoxidizing element and is required to be added in an amount of 0.002% or more. When Al is added in an amount more than 0.10%, coarse alumina inclusions are generated and toughness is thus reduced in some cases. Accordingly, the upper limit thereof is set to 0.10%. The lower limit of the additional mount of Al may be limited to 0.020%. The upper limit of the additional amount of Al may be limited to 0.08% or 0.05%.


It is preferable that P is not contained because P reduces the low-temperature toughness of a welded joint and a base material. The acceptable amount of P as an impurity element which is inevitably incorporated is 0.01% or less. In addition, the acceptable amount of P may be limited to be 0.009% or less.


It is not preferable that S is contained because in the present invention employing a method of adding a large amount of Mn, S generates coarse MnS to reduce the toughness of a welded joint and a base material. Since Ni, which is effective in compatibility between high strength and high toughness but unfortunately expensive material, is not used in the present invention, the harmful effect of coarse MnS is significant. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly regulate the acceptable amount of S so that the inevitably incorporated amount of S as an impurity element becomes 0.0010% or less.


Regarding N, when N is added in an amount of 0.0060% or more, the toughness of a welded joint and a base material is reduced, so the upper limit thereof is set to 0.0060%.


It is not preferable that the five elements, Mo, Si, V, Ti and B are contained. However, the upper limits of the inevitably incorporated amounts of the five elements as impurity elements are as follows: 0.03% of Mo, 0.09% of Si, 0.01% of V, 0.003% of Ti, and 0.0003% of B.


Mo, Si, V, Ti and B are particularly significant elements in the present invention, and only in the case in which all of the amounts of these five elements are less than the above-described upper limits, good welded joint toughness can be achieved at −50° C. without adding Ni. When even one of the five elements exceeds the upper limit, a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite which is an embrittlement structure, or TiN as harmful inclusions, is generated in a HAZ. It is considered as the reason for achieving good low-temperature toughness of a welded joint that neither the coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite nor TiN are generated, only in the case in which all of the amounts of the five elements are less than the above-described upper limits. Since Ni, which is effective in compatibility between high strength and high toughness but unfortunately expensive material, is not used in the present invention, the harmful effect of the coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite and TiN is significant. Therefore, it is not preferable that the five elements are contained in the present invention.


Nb is an important element in the present invention. When Nb is added, the strength and toughness of a base material cannot be obtained. In general, Nb is effective to make the base material have fine structure in order to obtain high strength and high toughness. However, in the component system in which the C content is small and Mn is added in a large amount as in the present invention, strain during rolling is excessively accumulated due to the addition of Nb, and thus a ferrite structure or a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite is locally generated during rolling and subsequent cooling. Accordingly, a high strength and a high toughness of the base material cannot be obtained. Though it is not preferable that Nb is contained, but the upper limit of the inevitably incorporated amount of Nb as an impurity element is 0.003%.


Mo, V, Ti and Nb are expensive elements like Ni. Accordingly, the present invention in which good features are obtained without adding these expensive elements has a greater merit in terms of the reduction of the alloy cost than in the case in which Ni is simply not added.


Cu may be added in regulation ranges of a Pcm value and a DI value to ensure the strength of a base material. In order to obtain this effect, 0.05% or more of Cu is required to be added. However, when 0.20% or more of Cu is added without adding Ni, problems regarding the manufacturing time period, productivity, and manufacturing cost due to the generation of surface cracking in steel plates and steel slabs may arise. Accordingly, the upper limit thereof is set to 0.20%. Specifically, the content of Cu which is inevitably incorporated is 0.03% or less.


Cr may be added within the regulation ranges of the Pcm value and the DI value in order to ensure the strength of a base material. In order to obtain this effect, 0.05% or more of Cr is required to be added. However, when Cr is added in an amount of more than 1.00%, the toughness of a welded joint and the base material is reduced, so the upper limit is set to 1.00%. The inevitably incorporated amount of Cr is set to 0.03% or less. Meanwhile, the upper limit of the adding amount of Cr may be limited to 0.50% or 0.30%.


By adding one or both of Mg and Ca, fine sulfides and oxides are formed, and base material toughness and welded joint toughness can thus be increased. In order to obtain this effect, it is necessary to add Mg or Ca in an amount of 0.0005% or more. However, when Mg or Ca is added in an amount exceeding 0.01%, coarse sulfides and oxides are generated and the toughness is thus reduced. Accordingly, the additional amounts of Mg and Ca are respectively set to be 0.0005% or more and 0.01% or less. The upper limit of the additional amount of Ca may be limited to 0.005% or 0.002%.


In the present invention, Ni is not added. However, the case in which Ni is inevitably incorporated from raw material scraps is within the scope of the invention because it is not expensive even when Ni is contained. The inevitably incorporated amount of Ni is set to be 0.03% or less.


When the Pcm value, which indicates weld cracking sensitivity, is more than 0.24%, the preheating-free characteristic cannot be derived in the welding. Accordingly; the upper limit of the Pcm value is set to be 0.24% or less. Meanwhile, When the Pcm value is less than 0.20%, it is impossible to obtain a base material with a high strength and a high toughness, and thus the lower limit thereof is set to 0.20%.


Herein, Pcm is represented by [C]+[Si]/30+[Mn]/20+[Cu]/20+[Ni]/60+[Cr]/20+[Mo]/15+[V]/10+5[B], wherein [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cu], [Ni], [Cr], [Mo], [V] and [B] are the amounts, expressed in mass %, of C, Si, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, V and B, respectively.


When DI value, which indicates hardenability, is less than 1.00, the hardenability of a HAZ becomes insufficient, and a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite which is an embrittlement structure is thus generated, and as a result, the low-temperature toughness of a welded joint is reduced. Accordingly, the lower limit thereof is set to 1.00. When the DI value is more than 2.60, the structure of the HAZ includes a large amount of low-toughness martensite and thus the low-temperature toughness of the welded joint is reduced. Accordingly, the upper limit thereof is set to 2.60. The upper limit of the DI value may be 2.00, 1.80 or 1.60.


Herein, DI is represented by 0.367([C]1/2)(1+0.7[Si])(1+3.33[Mn])(1+0.35[Cu])(1+0.36[Ni])(1+2.16[Cr])(1+3.0[Mo]) (1+1.75[V])(1+1.77[Al]).


Herein, [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cu], [Ni], [Cr], [Mo], [V] and [Al] mean the amounts, expressed in mass %, of C, Si, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, V and Al, respectively. Coefficients of the elements in the hardenability index (DI value) are described in Nippon Steel Technical Report No. 348 (1993), p. 11.


Next, a description of the manufacturing method other than the component composition will be given.


A heating temperature for steel slabs or cast slabs is required to be 950° C. or more for rolling. When the heating temperature is higher than 1100° C., austenite grains become coarse and toughness is thus reduced. Particularly, since Ni is not added in the present invention, a good base material toughness is not obtained when initial austenite grains at the time of heating are not made fine grains. In the component system according to the present invention in which the amount of C is small and Nb is not added, an effect of suppressing the growth of austenite grains by solid solution C or NbC is small and the initial austenite grains at the time of heating easily become coarse Accordingly, the upper limit of the heating temperature is required to be strictly regulated to 1100° C.


A cumulative draft when in a temperature range at which austenite is recrystallized is required to be 70% or more in order to obtain high strength and high toughness of a base material through sufficient isotropic refining of austenite grains. The sufficient austenite recrystallization temperature range for the steel according to the present invention is 850° C. or more. Accordingly, it is necessary to set the cumulative draft when a temperature is 850° C. or more to be 70% or more. Herein, the cumulative draft is the result which is obtained by dividing the total reduced thickness in rolling when a temperature is 850° C. or more by a rolling start thickness, that is, a steel slab thickness or a cast slab thickness, and is expressed by %. When the cumulative draft is more than 90%, rolling is performed for a long time period and thus productivity is reduced. Thus, the upper limit thereof is set to 90%.


A cumulative draft in a temperature range at which austenite is not recrystallized is required to be 10% or more in order to obtain a base material with a high strength and a high toughness. The sufficient austenite unrecrystallization temperature range for the steel according to the present invention is in the range of 780-830° C. Accordingly, it is necessary to set the cumulative draft when a temperature is fallen within the range of 780-830° C. to be 10% or more. Herein, the cumulative draft is the result which is obtained by dividing the total reduced thickness in rolling when a temperature is fallen within the range of 780-830° C. by a rolling start thickness at a temperature in the range of 780-830° C. and is expressed by %. When the cumulative draft is more than 40%, a ferrite structure or a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite is locally generated due to the excess accumulation of rolling strain and thus a base material with a high strength and high toughness cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the upper limit thereof is set to 40%.


Similarly, when a rolling temperature is lower than 780° C., a ferrite structure or a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite is locally generated due to the excess accumulation of rolling strain and thus a base material with a high strength and high toughness cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the lower limit of the rolling temperature is regulated to 780° C.


When a start temperature of accelerated cooling after rolling is lower than 700° C., a ferrite structure or a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite is locally generated and thus a base material with a high strength and high toughness cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the lower limit temperature thereof is set to 700° C.


When a cooling rate of accelerated cooling is less than 8° C./sec, a ferrite structure or a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite is locally generated and thus a base material with a high strength and high toughness cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the lower limit thereof is set to 8° C./sec. The upper limit is 80° C./sec, which is a cooling rate which can be stably achieved by water cooling.


When a stop temperature of accelerated cooling is higher than 350° C., particularly, in the thickness center portion of a thick member having a thickness of 30 mm or more, a coarse bainite structure including island-like martensite is generated due to insufficient hardening and thus a base material with a high strength and high toughness cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the upper limit of the stop temperature is set to 350° C. Here, the stop temperature is the surface-temperature of a steel plate when the temperature of the steel plate is restored after cooling. The lower limit of the stop temperature is a room temperature, but a more preferable stop temperature is 100° C. or more from the viewpoint of dehydrogenation of the steel plate.


EXAMPLES

Steel slabs obtained by producing steel having component compositions shown in Tables 1-3 were made into steel plates having thicknesses of 12-40 mm under the manufacturing conditions shown in Tables 4-7. Numbers 1-21 of Table 4 are examples according to the present invention and numbers 22-73 of Tables 5-7 are comparative examples. In the Tables, the underlined numerals and symbols indicate that the manufacturing conditions such as components or rolling conditions are beyond the patent ranges, or that the features do not satisfy the following target values. In Tables 1-3, the Ni content indicates an inevitably incorporated amount as an impurity element.











TABLE 1









Chemical Composition (mass %)



















Steel
C
Si
Mn
P
S
Cu
Ni
Cr
Mo
Nb





Steel
A
0.030
0.05
3.33
0.007
0.0005
0.01
0.00
0.10
0.00
0.002


According
B
0.041
0.09
3.40
0.001
0.0009
0.00
0.00
0.03
0.00
0.002


to the
C
0.055
0.03
3.30
0.007
0.0007
0.00
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.002


Present
D
0.047
0.03
3.00
0.005
0.0005
0.00
0.00
0.12
0.02
0.001


Invention
E
0.044
0.03
3.50
0.005
0.0005
0.03
0.01
0.01
0.03
0.000



F
0.041
0.04
3.41
0.009
0.0007
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.00
0.003



G
0.048
0.03
3.40
0.008
0.0007
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.00
0.002



H
0.042
0.04
3.36
0.009
0.0009
0.10
0.03
0.00
0.01
0.001



I
0.051
0.06
3.00
0.005
0.0005
0.20
0.03
0.03
0.00
0.002



J
0.052
0.03
3.05
0.004
0.0005
0.00
0.00
0.58
0.02
0.002



K
0.030
0.08
3.15
0.009
0.0006
0.00
0.01
1.00
0.00
0.000



L
0.037
0.05
3.41
0.003
0.0005
0.00
0.02
0.03
0.02
0.003



M
0.049
0.03
3.20
0.004
0.0006
0.03
0.01
0.02
0.01
0.002



N
0.048
0.04
3.45
0.005
0.0007
0.08
0.02
0.07
0.01
0.000













Chemical Composition (mass %)
Index


















Steel
V
Ti
Al
B
Mg
Ca
N
Pcm*
DI**





Steel
A
0.000
0.001
0.016
0.0001
0.0000
0.0002
0.0024
0.204
1.00


According
B
0.000
0.002
0.008
0.0000
0.0001
0.0003
0.0039
0.216
1.05


to the
C
0.000
0.001
0.023
0.0001
0.0003
0.0003
0.0021
0.224
1.20


Present
D
0.000
0.002
0.026
0.0001
0.0004
0.0000
0.0042
0.206
1.25


Invention
E
0.008
0.001
0.045
0.0002
0.0000
0.0004
0.0028
0.226
1.23



F
0.000
0.001
0.002
0.0003
0.0012
0.0020
0.0028
0.217
1.00



G
0.000
0.000
0.100
0.0002
0.0003
0.0000
0.0044
0.222
1.26



H
0.000
0.000
0.008
0.0002
0.0002
0.0003
0.0023
0.219
1.03



I
0.005
0.003
0.049
0.0000
0.0004
0.0005
0.0045
0.216
1.20



J
0.009
0.000
0.012
0.0001
0.0005
0.0005
0.0034
0.237
2.36



K
0.000
0.000
0.036
0.0000
0.0001
0.0001
0.0032
0.240
2.60



L
0.000
0.000
0.009
0.0002
0.0025
0.0003
0.0026
0.213
1.04



M
0.000
0.002
0.037
0.0000
0.0001
0.0019
0.0032
0.213
1.12



N
0.000
0.000
0.030
0.0000
0.0000
0.0015
0.0031
0.230
1.33





*Pcm = C + Si/30 + Mn/20 + Cu/20 + Ni/60 + Cr/20 + Mo/15 + V/10 + 5B


**DI = 0.367(C)1/2(1 + 0.7Si)(1 + 3.33Mn)(1 + 0.35Cu)(1 + 0.36Ni)(1 + 2.16Cr)(1 + 3.0Mo)(1 + 1.75V)(1 + 1.77Al)















TABLE 2









Chemical Composition (mass %)



















Steel
C
Si
Mn
P
S
Cu
Ni
Cr
Mo
Nb





Comparative
O

0.027

0.06
3.21
0.007
0.0005
0.03
0.01
0.23
0.02
0.001


Steel
P

0.059

0.08
3.28
0.003
0.0005
0.04
0.01
0.18
0.01
0.003



Q
0.054

0.12

3.35
0.008
0.0005
0.03
0.00
0.03
0.03
0.002



R
0.052
0.07

2.90

0.007
0.0008
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.03
0.003



S
0.052
0.07

3.63

0.002
0.0007
0.00
0.00
0.01
0.01
0.002



T
0.048
0.04
3.46

0.013

0.0005
0.02
0.02
0.19
0.02
0.002



U
0.052
0.08
3.23
0.002

0.0012

0.02
0.02
0.28
0.01
0.002



V
0.030
0.04
3.00
0.007
0.0005
0.00
0.00

1.10

0.00
0.000



W
0.054
0.07
3.29
0.006
0.0008
0.00
0.02
0.25

0.04

0.003



X
0.053
0.07
3.30
0.007
0.0009
0.01
0.01
0.00

0.15

0.001



Y
0.030
0.04
3.13
0.007
0.0008
0.03
0.02
0.36
0.00

0.004




Z
0.034
0.02
3.35
0.007
0.0007
0.01
0.03
0.01
0.03

0.025




AA
0.053
0.08
3.39
0.003
0.0009
0.00
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.003



AB
0.035
0.03
3.42
0.004
0.0006
0.00
0.00
0.25
0.01
0.001



AC
0.053
0.06
3.36
0.002
0.0008
0.01
0.02
0.01
0.00
0.001



AD
0.048
0.07
3.30
0.008
0.0007
0.10
0.02
0.15
0.03
0.000



AE
0.039
0.03
3.20
0.006
0.0005
0.03
0.01
0.03
0.01
0.001



AF
0.049
0.06
3.18
0.003
0.0008
0.02
0.02
0.00
0.00
0.001



AG
0.049
0.06
3.18
0.003
0.0008
0.02
0.02
0.00
0.00
0.001



AH
0.038
0.02
3.43
0.004
0.0005
0.00
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.002



AI
0.040
0.04
3.22
0.008
0.0006
0.03
0.03
0.00
0.03
0.000



AJ
0.053
0.02
3.24
0.002
0.0007
0.04
0.00
0.03
0.03
0.003













Chemical Composition (mass %)
Index


















Steel
V
Ti
Al
B
Mg
Ca
N
Pcm*
DI**





Comparative
O
0.001
0.001
0.024
0.0003
0.0000
0.0001
0.0028
0.206
1.23


Steel
P
0.002
0.000
0.036
0.0001
0.0000
0.0002
0.0043
0.238
1.74



Q
0.000
0.001
0.026
0.0003
0.0000
0.0001
0.0049
0.232
1.38



R
0.001
0.003
0.036
0.0001
0.0000
0.0003
0.0025
0.204
1.13



S
0.001
0.000
0.035
0.0003
0.0000
0.0001
0.0033
0.239
1.29



T
0.001
0.000
0.046
0.0003
0.0001
0.0003
0.0030
0.236
1.70



U
0.003
0.001
0.030
0.0000
0.0000
0.0003
0.0054
0.232
1.84



V
0.000
0.000
0.038
0.0000
0.0002
0.0000
0.0053
0.236
2.59



W
0.003
0.002
0.042
0.0001
0.0000
0.0000
0.0037
0.237
2.01



X
0.002
0.002
0.031
0.0001
0.0002
0.0000
0.0023
0.232
1.64



Y
0.002
0.000
0.041
0.0003
0.0002
0.0000
0.0037
0.209
1.45



Z
0.002
0.000
0.038
0.0003
0.0003
0.0000
0.0021
0.207
1.01



AA

0.012

0.000
0.044
0.0001
0.0001
0.0000
0.0033
0.231
1.41



AB

0.057

0.003
0.031
0.0003
0.0001
0.0000
0.0046
0.227
1.60



AC
0.000

0.007

0.034
0.0000
0.0003
0.0000
0.0057
0.224
1.17



AD
0.001

0.015

0.050
0.0000
0.0001
0.0003
0.0045
0.230
1.66



AE
0.001
0.002

0.120

0.0001
0.0000
0.0003
0.0041
0.204
1.17



AF
0.000
0.003
0.052

0.0005

0.0002
0.0001
0.0052
0.214
1.09



AG
0.000
0.003
0.052

0.0015

0.0002
0.0001
0.0052
0.219
1.09



AH
0.001
0.003
0.054
0.0003

0.0115

0.0003
0.0041
0.215
1.13



AI
0.001
0.000
0.029
0.0000
0.0000

0.0120

0.0043
0.206
1.04



AJ
0.003
0.002
0.023
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

0.0065

0.221
1.24





*Pcm = C + Si/30 + Mn/20 + Cu/20 + Ni/60 + Cr/20 + Mo/15 + V/10 + 5B


**DI = 0.367(C)1/2(1 + 0.7Si)(1 + 3.33Mn)(1 + 0.35Cu)(1 + 0.36Ni)(1 + 2.16Cr)(1 + 3.0Mo)(1 + 1.75V)(1 + 1.77Al)















TABLE 3









Chemical Composition (mass %)



















Steel
C
Si
Mn
P
S
Cu
Ni
Cr
Mo
Nb





Comparative
AK
0.030
0.05
3.00
0.006
0.0006
0.01
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.000


Steel
AL
0.032
0.04
3.05
0.006
0.0008
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.000



AM
0.053
0.07
3.41
0.005
0.0007
0.03
0.03
0.38
0.00
0.000



AN
0.055
0.07
3.48
0.008
0.0009
0.03
0.03
0.47
0.00
0.000



AO
0.030
0.08
3.15
0.009
0.0008
0.00
0.01
0.93
0.00
0.000



AP
0.054
0.08
3.46
0.005
0.0009
0.22
0.01
0.60
0.00
0.000



AQ
0.032
0.08
3.34
0.006
0.0005
0.00
0.01
0.00

0.21

0.000



AR
0.030

0.35

3.06
0.008
0.0007
0.00
0.01
0.00

0.35

0.000



AS
0.037
0.05
3.05
0.005
0.0008
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.52

0.000













Chemical Composition (mass %)
Index


















Steel
V
Ti
Al
B
Mg
Ca
N
Pcm*
DI**





Comparative
AK
0.001
0.000
0.055
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0043

0.182


0.80



Steel
AL
0.001
0.000
0.085
0.0000
0.0023
0.0000
0.0038

0.186


0.87




AM
0.001
0.000
0.029
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0043

0.247

2.14



AN
0.001
0.000
0.045
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0043

0.257

2.53



AO
0.000
0.000
0.085
0.0003
0.0000
0.0000
0.0055
0.238

2.68




AP
0.000
0.000
0.085
0.0003
0.0000
0.0000
0.0035

0.272


3.22




AQ

0.057

0.000
0.043

0.0013

0.0000
0.0000
0.0058
0.228
1.63



AR

0.037

0.000
0.085

0.0025

0.0000
0.0000
0.0055
0.234
2.23



AS
0.000

0.015

0.031

0.0020

0.0027
0.0026
0.0030
0.236
2.20





*Pcm = C + Si/30 + Mn/20 + Cu/20 + Ni/60 + Cr/20 + Mo/15 + V/10 + 5B


**DI = 0.367(C)1/2(1 + 0.7Si)(1 + 3.33Mn)(1 + 0.35Cu)(1 + 0.36Ni)(1 + 2.16Cr)(1 + 3.0Mo)(1 + 1.75V)(1 + 1.77Al)






















TABLE 4












Cumulative
Cumulative








Heating

Draft at
Draft at
Rolling
Cooling




Manufacturing

Temperature
Slab
850° C. or
780 to
Completion
Start




Condition

in Rolling
Thickness
Higher
830° C.
Temperature
Temperature
Cooling Rate



No.
Steel
(° C.)
(mm)
(%)
(%)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C./sec)





Examples
1
A
1040
140
90
12
780
700
80



2
A
1040
140
86
40
780
720
45



3
B
990
140
87
11
780
740
25



4
B
1060
140
81
38
790
787
49



5
C
1080
230
89
20
810
781
37



6
D
1060
240
83
25
790
785
11



7
E
950
170
70
22
810
751
15



8
E
1040
240
75
33
810
787
14



9
E
1020
310
84
20
790
757
15



10
F
1040
310
84
20
810
752
10



11
G
1050
310
84
20
810
775
8



12
F
1000
240
79
30
800
757
16



13
G
1060
240
77
36
810
779
10



14
H
1080
240
79
40
810
825
22



15
I
1060
240
79
40
810
785
11



16
A
1040
230
87
17
790
725
27



17
J
1030
230
88
11
800
745
27



18
K
1030
230
83
38
810
796
27



19
L
1100
230
87
17
800
752
27



20
M
1030
230
83
38
810
763
27



21
N
1050
240
79
40
800
745
22


























Toughness






Base
Base


of Weld






Material
Material
Base

Heat-




Cooling

Yield
Tensile
Material

Affected



Manufacturing
Stop

Stress
Strength
Toughness
Required Preheating
Zone



Condition
Temperature
Thickness
(MPa)
(MPa)
vE-80
Temperature
vE-50


















No.
(° C.)
(mm)
¼t
½t
¼t
½t
(J)
(° C.)
(J)



















Examples
1
320
12
765
922
189
Preheating is not required
146



2
340
12
729
855
197
Preheating is not required
140



3
80
16
726
908
179
Preheating is not required
163



4
320
16
770
919
190
Preheating is not required
161



5
330
20
789
932
150
25
181


















6
170
30
754
731
950
931
186
Preheating is not required
141



7
20
40
750
726
993
974
181
Preheating is not required
131



8
20
40
764
731
990
963
181
Preheating is not required
169



9
150
40
767
745
995
988
181
Preheating is not required
166



10
180
40
780
753
951
924
186
Preheating is not required
145



11
100
40
778
746
992
973
181
Preheating is not required
165



12
320
35
788
762
961
940
185
Preheating is not required
140



13
350
35
749
729
891
871
193
Preheating is not required
186



14
150
30
779
757
957
938
185
Preheating is not required
117



15
20
30
760
722
997
964
180
Preheating is not required
125



16
250
25
756
735
913
886
215
Preheating is not required
155



17
340
25
806
785
956
942
152
25
145



18
280
25
786
766
995
994
143
25
159



19
330
25
810
773
954
916
186
Preheating is not required
116



20
300
25
799
759
968
931
184
Preheating is not required
163



21
250
30
772
735
947
898
165
Preheating is not required
120


























TABLE 5












Cumulative
Cumulative








Heating

Draft at
Draft at
Rolling
Cooling




Manufacturing

Temperature
Slab
850° C. or
780 to
Completion
Start




Condition

in Rolling
Thickness
Higher
830° C.
Temperature
Temperature
Cooling Rate



No.
Steel
(° C.)
(mm)
(%)
(%)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C./sec)





Examples
22

O

970
240
83
25
798
755
12



23

P

1030
240
83
25
796
748
20



24

Q

1040
240
83
25
813
766
20



25

R

960
310
85
33
801
762
20



26

S

960
310
85
33
790
755
15



27

T

1060
310
84
40
798
752
15



28

U

950
310
87
13
808
758
17



29

V

1040
310
87
13
805
768
17



30

W

1020
310
84
20
800
759
14



31

X

1050
310
84
20
793
753
14



32

Y

1040
230
79
38
780
755
12



33

Z

1080
230
79
38
790
776
15



34

AA

970
230
79
38
799
759
19



35

AB

980
230
85
14
798
764
18



36

AC

1030
230
85
14
792
746
15



37

AD

1030
230
83
25
802
754
15



38

AE

1040
230
83
25
812
776
17



39

AF

960
230
80
33
791
745
19



40

AG

960
230
85
29
793
745
25



41

AH

970
230
87
17
797
740
25



42

AI

1050
230
87
17
800
743
28



43

AJ

1070
230
88
11
817
759
25


























Toughness






Base
Base


of Weld






Material
Material
Base

Heat-




Cooling

Yield
Tensile
Material

Affected



Manufacturing
Stop

Stress
Strength
Toughness
Required Preheating
Zone



Condition
Temperature
Thickness
(MPa)
(MPa)
vE-80
Temperature
vE-50


















No.
(° C.)
(mm)
¼t
½t
¼t
½t
(J)
(° C.)
(J)





Examples
22
20
30

624


593


755


735

172 
Preheating is not required

39




23
200
30
752
734
926
915
163 

50


35




24
60
30
753
737
979
979
167 
25

52




25
150
30

630


611


765


753

153 
Preheating is not required
154 



26
350
30
763
741
886
874

73

Preheating is not required
137 



27
180
30
763
745
944
942

49

Preheating is not required

22




28
290
35
760
733
918
894

79

Preheating is not required

34




29
250
35
767
739
936
910

81

Preheating is not required
162 



30
290
40
747
730
896
877
189 
Preheating is not required

27




31
240
40
760
737
925
893
177 
Preheating is not required

30




32
330
30

652


633


776


778


82

Preheating is not required
139 



33
320
30

643


630


756


762


83

Preheating is not required
150 



34
190
30
766
750
958
948
177 
Preheating is not required

35




35
320
30
761
740
900
888
157 
Preheating is not required

36




36
260
30
772
745
929
910

69

Preheating is not required

26




37
150
30
778
757
973
971

68

Preheating is not required

38




38
240
30
763
739
929
911

46

Preheating is not required

32




39
350
30
766
749
892
883
180 
Preheating is not required

38




40
280
25
771
744
920
900
169 
Preheating is not required

24




41
200
25
769
750
951
946

49

Preheating is not required

42




42
340
25
774
755
897
890

51

Preheating is not required

28




43
270
25
764
739
919
911

78

Preheating is not required

31


























TABLE 6












Cumulative
Cumulative








Heating

Draft at
Draft at
Rolling
Cooling




Manufacturing

Temperature
Slab
850° C. or
780 to
Completion
Start




Condition

in Rolling
Thickness
Higher
830° C.
Temperature
Temperature
Cooling Rate



No.
Steel
(° C.)
(mm)
(%)
(%)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C./sec)





Examples
44

AK

960
230
85
14
815
788
19



45

AL

1060
230
78
20
809
784
17



46

AM

990
230
74
33
810
771
19



47

AN

1070
230
76
29
820
794
16



48

AO

1060
230
74
33
791
754
16



49

AP

960
230
72
38
813
791
16



50

AQ

1010
230
74
33
805
774
19



51

AR

1060
230
78
20
817
786
16



52

AS

1060
230
74
33
802
764
19


























Toughness






Base
Base


of Weld






Material
Material
Base

Heat-




Cooling

Yield
Tensile
Material

Affected



Manufacturing
Stop

Stress
Strength
Toughness
Required Preheating
Zone



Condition
Temperature
Thickness
(MPa)
(MPa)
vE-80
Temperature
vE-50


















No.
(° C.)
(mm)
¼t
½t
¼t
½t
(J)
(° C.)
(J)





Examples
44
140
30

659


640

889
870
85
Preheating is not required

45




45
270
40

666


652

790

775

78
Preheating is not required

37




46
320
40
713
695
847
830
167

50

152 



47
350
40
731
716
858
834
175

75

137 



48
150
40
741
724
918
888
156
Preheating is not required

23




49
100
40
770
750
971
950
125

75


34




50
20
40
768
747
986
967
148
25

32




51
80
40
763
747
956
937
173
25

27




52
270
40
753
734
926
895
160
25

29


























TABLE 7












Cumulative
Cumulative








Heating

Draft at
Draft at
Rolling
Cooling




Manufacturing

Temperature
Slab
850° C. or
780 to
Completion
Start




Condition

in Rolling
Thickness
Higher
830° C.
Temperature
Temperature
Cooling Rate



No.
Steel
(° C.)
(mm)
(%)
(%)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C./sec)





Examples
53
J

1130

240
79
20
805
781
17



54
C

1180

240
79
20
813
789
17



55
A
1130
170

60

41
792
760
12



56
B
1090
170

66

31
805
775
12



57
B
1060
240
82
7
820
798
14



58
C
1000
240
82
9
799
777
17



59
D
1050
310
77

43

793
756
14



60
E
 970
310
74

50

807
767
16



61
B
1060
310
84
20

743

768
10



62
E
 960
310
84
20

770

775
10



63
C
1080
310
84
20
798

657

14



64
F
 980
310
84
20
819

685

12



65
D
1080
240
79
30
805
746
5



66
G
 980
240
79
30
803
750
7



67
H
1090
240
79
30
815
799
16



68
H
 980
240
79
30
816
790
16



69
A
 990
140
88
29

762

710
40



70
I
1080
140
88
29
799

650

42



71
J
1080
140
89
25
801
740
7



72
K
1050
140
90
14
792
735
40



73
L
1020
140
90
14
797
724
45


























Toughness






Base
Base


of Weld






Material
Material
Base

Heat-




Cooling

Yield
Tensile
Material

Affected



Manufacturing
Stop

Stress
Strength
Toughness
Required Preheating
Zone



Condition
Temperature
Thickness
(MPa)
(MPa)
vE-80
Temperature
vE-50


















No.
(° C.)
(mm)
¼t
½t
¼t
½t
(J)
(° C.)
(J)





Examples
53
 20
40
763
726
987
967

48

Preheating is not required
136



54
 90
40
776
742
984
964

49

Preheating is not required
173



55
150
40

618


589


768


746


58

Preheating is not required
133



56
340
40

651


629


752


742


57

Preheating is not required
154



57
150
40

616


590


758


748

129 
Preheating is not required
149



58
320
40

631


594


738


707

134 
25
139



59
130
40

628


593

783

756


57

Preheating is not required
155



60
 80
40

650


627

828
815

62

Preheating is not required
141



61
 50
40

648


622

834
825

85

Preheating is not required
157



62
 50
40

604


578


763


751


65

Preheating is not required
177



63
310
40

613


582


719


695


53

25
178



64
290
40

644


618


755


744


59

Preheating is not required
180



65
 90
35

657


627

827
813

62

Preheating is not required
158



66
300
35

628


604


737


725


68

Preheating is not required
175



67

380

35

602


571


740


718


49

Preheating is not required
144



68

400

35

595


573


697


690


46

Preheating is not required
140
















69
300
12

596


715


78

Preheating is not required
142



70
250
12

589


717


75

Preheating is not required
143



71
200
12

627


770


85

25
174



72

380

12

625


786


74

25
155



73

520

12

587


749


82

Preheating is not required
184










Tables 4-7 show the results of evaluations of the base material strength (base material yield stress, base material tensile strength), the base material toughness, the weldability (required preheating temperature) and the low-temperature toughness of a welded joint (weld heat-affected zone) of steel plates.


Regarding the base material strength, 1A-full thickness tensile test pieces or 4-round bar tensile test pieces specified in JIS Z 2201 were collected to measure the base material strength by a method specified in JIS Z 2241. In the case of plates having a thickness of 20 mm or less, 1A-full thickness tensile test pieces were collected, and in the case of plates having a thickness of more than 20 mm, 4-round bar tensile test pieces were collected from the ¼ parts (¼t parts) of a plate thickness and a thickness center portion (½t parts).


Regarding the base material toughness, impact test pieces specified in JIS Z 2202 were collected in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction from the thickness center portion, and the Charpy absorbed energy (vE-80) at −80° C. was obtained by a method specified in JIS Z 2242 to evaluate the base material toughness.


Regarding the weldability, shielded metal arc welding was performed at between 14-16° C. at a heat input of 1.7 kJ/mm by a method specified in JIS Z 3158 and a preheating temperature required to prevent root cracks was thus obtained to evaluate the weldability.


Regarding the toughness of the weld heat-affected zone, SAW welding (current 500 A, voltage 30 V, rate 30 cm/min) was performed at a heat input amount of 3.0 kJ/mm by using a V-shaped groove of an angle of 20° having a root gap and impact test pieces specified in JIS Z 2202 were collected from a thickness center portion (½t parts) so that a notch bottom includes a fusion line as large as possible, and then, the toughness of the weld heat-affected zone was evaluated with absorbed energy (vE-50) at −50° C.


As for the target values of the features, the base material yield stress was 685 Mpa or more, the base material tensile strength was 780 Mpa or more, the base material toughness (vE-80) was 100 J or more, the required preheating temperature was 25° C. or less, and the toughness of the weld heat-affected zone was 60 J or more with vE-50.


All the examples 1-21 according to the present invention have a base material yield stress of 685 Mpa or more, a base material tensile strength of 780 Mpa or more, a base material toughness (vE-80) of 100 J or more, a required preheating temperature of 25° C. or more, and weld heat-affected zone toughness of 60 J or more with vE-50.


On the other hand, the following comparative examples have insufficient base material yield stress and tensile strength. That is, the base material yield stress and the tensile strength are insufficient due to a small additional amount of C in the case of the comparative example 22, a small additional amount of Mn in the case of the comparative example 25, the addition of Nb in the case of the comparative examples 32 and 33, a low Pcm value in the case of the comparative examples 44 and 45, a cumulative draft less than 70% at 850° C. or higher in the case of the comparative examples 55 and 56, a cumulative draft less than 10% at 780-830° C. in the case of the comparative examples 57 and 58, a cumulative draft more than 40% at 780-830° C. in the case of the comparative examples 59 and 60, a rolling completion temperature lower than 780° C. in the case of the comparative examples 61, 62 and 69, a water cooling start temperature lower than 700° C. in the case of the comparative examples 63, 64 and 70, a cooling rate less than 8° C./sec in the case of the comparative examples 65, 66 and 71, and a cooling stop temperature higher than 350° C. in the case of the comparative examples 67, 68, 72 and 73.


The following comparative examples have insufficient base material toughness. The base material toughness is insufficient due to a large additional amount of Mn in the case of the comparative example 26, a large additional amount of P in the case of the comparative example 27, a large additional amount of S in the case of the comparative example 28, a large additional amount of Cr in the case of the comparative example 29, the addition of Nb in the case of the comparative examples 32 and 33, the addition of Ti in the case of the comparative examples 36 and 37, a large additional amount of Al in the case of the comparative example 38, large additional amounts of Mg, Ca and N in the case of the comparative examples 41, 42 and 43, respectively, a low Pcm value in the case of the comparative examples 44 and 45, a high heating temperature in the case of the comparative examples 53 and 54, a cumulative draft less than 70% at 850° C. or higher in the case of the comparative examples 55 and 56, a cumulative draft more than 40% at 780-830° C. in the case of the comparative examples 59 and 60, a rolling completion temperature lower than 780° C. in the case of the comparative examples 61, 62 and 69, a water cooling start temperature lower than 700° C. in the case of the comparative examples 63, 64 and 70, a cooling rate less than 8° C./sec in the case of the comparative examples 65, 66 and 71, and a cooling stop temperature higher than 350° C. in the case of the comparative examples 67, 68, 72 and 73.


Due to a large additional amount of C in the case of the comparative example 23 and a high Pcm value in the case of the comparative examples 46, 47 and 49, the required preheating temperature is higher than 25° C. and thus the preheating-free requirement is not satisfied.


In addition, the following comparative examples do not satisfy the low-temperature toughness of a welded joint requirement (weld heat-affected zone toughness). That is, none of the following comparative examples satisfy the low-temperature toughness of the welded joint requirement due to a small additional amount of C in the case of the comparative example 22, a large additional amount of C in the case of the comparative example 23, the addition of Si in the case of the comparative example 24, large additional amounts of P and S in the case of the comparative examples 27 and 28, respectively, the addition of Mo in the case of the comparative examples 30 and 31, the addition of V in the case of the comparative examples 34 and 35, the addition of Ti in the case of the comparative examples 36 and 37, a large additional amount of Al in the case of the comparative example 38, the addition of B in the case of the comparative examples 39 and 40, large additional amounts of Mg, Ca and N in the case of the comparative examples 41, 42 and 43, respectively, a low DI value in the case of the comparative examples 44 and 45, a high DI value in the case of the comparative examples 48 and 49, the addition of three or four of Mo, V, Si, Ti and B in the case of the comparative examples 50, 51 and 52. In the case of the comparative example 49, since more than 0.20% of Cu was added to the steel in which Ni was not added, fine cracks were generated in the steel slab surface. Accordingly, it was necessary to partially grind the surface by several millimeters before hot rolling and productivity was thus reduced.


INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the invention, a high tensile strength thick steel plate with a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more and a thickness of 12-40 mm, which is suitable as a structural member for welding structures such as construction machines, industrial machines, bridges, buildings, ships and the like strongly requiring high strength, and which has excellent preheating-free weldability, can be manufactured with high productivity and at a low cost without using expensive Ni and requiring a reheating tempering heat treatment after rolling. The effect thereof on the industrial field is very significant.

Claims
  • 1. A method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate with a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more, the method comprising: heating to 950-1100° C. a steel slab or a cast slab having a component composition which includes, in mass %, 0.030-0.055% of C, 3.0-3.5% of Mn, 0.002-0.10% of Al, 0.01% or less of P, 0.0010% or less of S, 0.0060% or less of N, 0.03% or less of Mo, 0.09% or less of Si, 0.01% or less of V, 0.003% or less of Ti, 0.0003% or less of B, 0.003% or less of Nb, and the balance Fe with inevitable impurities, and of which Pcm value representing a weld cracking parameter is fallen within the range of 0.20-0.24% and DI value representing a hardenability index is fallen within the range of 1.00-2.60,wherein when [C], [Si], [Mn], [Cu], [Ni], [Cr], [Mo], [V], [Al] and [B] are the amounts, expressed in mass %, of C, Si, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, V, Al and B respectively, the Pcm value and the DI value are given as follows, Pcm=[C]+[Si]/30+[Mn]/20+[Cu]/20+[Ni]/60+[Cr]/20+[Mo]/15+[V]/10+5[B],DI=0.367([C]1/2)(1+0.7[Si])(1+3.33[Mn])(1+0.35[Cu])(1+0.36[Ni])(1+2.16[Cr])(1+3.0[Mo])(1+1.75[V])(1+1.77[Al]);performing a first rolling with a cumulative draft of 70-90% when a temperature is in a range of 850° C. or more;performing a second rolling at 780° C. or higher after performing the first rolling, with a cumulative draft of 10-40% when a temperature is in a range of 780-830° C.;starting accelerated cooling at a cooling rate of 8-80° C./sec from 700° C. or higher after performing the second rolling; andstopping the accelerated cooling at a temperature between room temperature and 350° C.
  • 2. The method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate according to claim 1, wherein the steel slab or the cast slab further contains one or both of 0.05-0.20% of Cu and 0.05-1.00% of Cr in mass %.
  • 3. The method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate according to claim 1, wherein the steel slab or the cast slab further contains, in mass %, one or both of 0.0005-0.01% of Mg and 0.0005-0.01% of Ca in mass %.
  • 4. The method of manufacturing a high tensile strength thick steel plate according to claim 1, wherein a thick steel plate having a thickness of 12-40 mm is manufactured.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
2008-095021 Apr 2008 JP national
2009-061630 Mar 2009 JP national
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind 371c Date
PCT/JP2009/056664 3/31/2009 WO 00 1/5/2010