STEEL SHEET

Abstract
A steel sheet having a tensile strength of 1100 MPa or more and excellent in crash resistance, having a micro-structure containing tempered martensite: 95 vol. % or more, wherein in a cross section parallel to a sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet, when a sheet thickness is denoted by t,in a 300-μm-square region centered about a t/2 point, a standard deviation of Vickers hardnesses that are measured under a load of 9.8 N at 30 points is 30 or less,wherein when a 100-μm-square region centered about a t/2 point is divided into 10×10, 100 subregions, and at a center of each of the subregions, a nano hardness is measured under a maximum load of 1 mN, out of the subregions, the number of subregions each of which makes a difference in nano hardness of 3 GPa or more from any one of eight surrounding subregions is 10 or less.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a steel sheet.


BACKGROUND ART

In order to ensure safety of an automobile at a time of collision and weight reduction, members of an automobile structure are required to establish compatibility between high strength and excellent crash resistance.


Patent Document 1 (JP2013-227614A) describes a high-strength steel sheet made to have a tensile strength of 1470 MPa or more after hot stamping by heating a cold-rolled steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition at a heating rate of 5 to 100° C./s to a temperature range of an Ac3 point or more to 950° C. or less and cooling, after heating, the steel sheet through a temperature range of Ara to 350° C. at a cooling rate of 50° C./s or more.


Patent Document 2 (JP2015-117403A) describes a high-strength galvanized steel sheet of which a value obtained by subtracting a Vickers hardness at a 20-μm-depth point from a surface of the steel sheet from a Vickers hardness at a 100-μm point from the surface of the steel sheet (ΔHv) is 30 or more, and describes a method for producing the high-strength galvanized steel sheet.


Patent Documents 3 and 4 each describe a cold-rolled steel sheet having a predetermined chemical composition.


LIST OF PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Document



  • Patent Document 1: JP2013-227614A

  • Patent Document 2: JP2015-117403A

  • Patent Document 3: WO 2009/110607

  • Patent Document 4: JP2009-215571A



SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem

According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, the steel sheet has an excellent effect in that a high-strength component is obtained; however, there is a need for a steel sheet that has improved tensile strength and improved crash resistance.


According to the invention described in Patent Document 2, the steel sheet includes a microstructure containing, in volume fraction, 20 to 50% of tempered martensite, and thus a sufficient hardness is not obtained, which results in degraded crash resistance.


The invention described in each of Patent Documents 3 and 4 involves a two-step heat treatment; however, a temperature of first heat treatment is as high as 1100 to 1200° C. Thus, a sufficient hardness is not obtained, which results in degraded crash resistance.


In order to ensure crash resistance, it is important to restrain cracks from being formed and propagating. For restraining cracks from being formed and propagating, it has been conceived to uniformize a steel micro-structure of a steel sheet, specifically, to form the steel micro-structure into a single structure. A steel micro-structure of the high-strength component described in Patent Document 1 is substantially a single martensite phase and therefore can be considered to be substantially uniform, from a steel micro-structure viewpoint.


However, as a result of more elaborate studies, the present inventors found that crash resistance can be more improved by decreasing not only variations in a steel micro-structure but also variations in hardness.


An objective of the present invention is to provide a steel sheet that establishes compatibility between high strength and excellent crash resistance.


Solution to Problem

First, the present inventors measured both Vickers hardnesses (macro hardnesses) and nano hardnesses (micro hardnesses) of various kinds of steel sheets in their cross sections parallel to a sheet-thickness direction (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet-thickness cross section). As a result, it was revealed that a steel sheet excellent in crash resistance has small variations in both macro hardness and micro hardness as compared with a steel sheet poor in crash resistance. It is considered that such unevenness in macro and micro hardnesses is attributable to coarse carbide produced in hot rolling.


Hence, the present inventors conducted further studies about how to reduce coarse carbide. In general, coarse carbide is difficult to dissolve through a typical heat treatment cycle. In particular, dissolving of carbide in which an alloying element such as Mn is concentrated is significantly delayed in a typical heat treatment cycle. For accelerating the dissolving of carbide, increasing a heating temperature and a heating duration is useful. It was however confirmed that adjustment of a heating temperature and a heating duration within ranges under heat treatment conditions manageable in a real operation results in a little effect of accelerating the dissolving of carbide.


Dissolving of carbide is a phenomenon attributable to diffusion of elements. The present inventors paid attention to the fact that diffusion coefficients of elements are higher in grain boundary diffusion in which grain boundaries serve as diffusion paths than in intraparticle diffusion in which elements diffuse inside grains. In order to utilize the grain boundary diffusion usefully, the present inventors then attempted to utilize martensite, which includes grain boundaries in a large quantity. Specifically, it was confirmed that coarse carbide was reduced by performing multi-step heat treatment, in which heat treatment to obtain a martensitic steel micro-structure including grain boundaries in a large quantity is performed, and then heat treatment is performed again. It was additionally confirmed that, by setting a coiling temperature after hot rolling at 550° C. or less, it is possible to reduce an amount of carbide after the hot rolling and to restrain alloying elements from concentrating in carbide.


In addition, the present inventors found that crash resistance can be further improved by increasing bendability of a steel sheet. When a steel sheet is subjected to bending deformation, while large tensile stress is applied to a bending-outer-circumferential near-surface portion in a circumferential direction, large compressive stress is applied to a bending-inner-circumferential near-surface portion. By providing a soft layer in an outer layer of a steel sheet, tensile stress and compressive stress occurring in the outer layer of the steel sheet in bending deformation of the steel sheet can be mitigated, which makes it possible to improve bendability of the steel sheet. The present inventors found that bendability of a steel sheet can be further improved by providing a soft layer in an outer layer of the steel sheet and increasing uniformity in hardness in the soft layer.


The gist of the present invention obtained in this manner is as described in the following (1) or (2).


(1) A steel sheet having a tensile strength of 1100 MPa or more,


wherein the steel sheet has a micro-structure containing, in volume fraction, tempered martensite: 95% or more, and one or more kinds of ferrite, pearlite, bainite, as-quenched martensite, and retained austenite: less than 5% in total,


wherein in a cross section parallel to a sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet, when a sheet thickness is denoted by t,


in a 300-μm-square region centered about a t/2 point, a standard deviation of Vickers hardnesses that are measured under a load of 9.8 N at 30 points is 30 or less,


wherein when a 100-μm-square region centered about a t/2 point is divided into 10×10, 100 subregions, and at a center of each of the subregions, a nano hardness is measured under a maximum load of 1 mN, out of the subregions, the number of subregions each of which makes a difference in nano hardness of 3 GPa or more from any one of eight surrounding subregions is 10 or less, and


wherein the steel sheet has a chemical composition comprising, in mass %:

    • C: 0.18% or more to 0.40% or less,
    • Si: 0.01% or more to 2.50% or less,
    • Mn: 0.60% or more to 5.00% or less,
    • P: 0.0200% or less,
    • S: 0.0200% or less,
    • N: 0.0200% or less,
    • O: 0.0200% or less,
    • Al: 0% or more to 1.00% or less,
    • Cr: 0% or more to 2.00% or less,
    • Mo: 0% or more to 0.50% or less,
    • Ti: 0% or more to 0.10% or less,
    • Nb: 0% or more to 0.100% or less,
    • B: 0% or more to 0.0100% or less,
    • V: 0% or more to 0.50% or less,
    • Cu: 0% or more to 0.500% or less,
    • W: 0% or more to 0.100% or less,
    • Ta: 0% or more to 0.100% or less,
    • Ni: 0% or more to 1.00% or less,
    • Co: 0% or more to 1.00% or less,
    • Sn: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • Sb: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • As: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • Mg: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • Ca: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • Y: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • Zr: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • La: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,
    • Ce: 0% or more to 0.050% or less, and
    • the balance: Fe and impurities.


(2) A steel sheet that includes a substrate layer including the steel sheet according to (1) and a soft layer formed on at least one of surfaces of the substrate layer,


wherein a thickness of the soft layer is more than 10 μm to 0.15t or less per side,


wherein at a 10-μm point from a surface of the soft layer, a standard deviation of Vickers hardnesses that are measured under a load of 4.9 N at 150 points is 30 or less, and


wherein an average Vickers hardness Hv1 of the soft layer is 0.9 times or less an average Vickers hardness Hv0 at a t/2 point.


The steel sheet according to (1) or (2) may include a galvanized layer, a galvannealed layer, or an electrogalvanized layer on its surface.


Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, a steel sheet that establishes compatibility between high strength and excellent crash resistance is obtained.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating locations and regions for measuring hardnesses of a steel sheet. FIG. 1(a) is a diagram illustrating a part of a cross section of the steel sheet, and FIG. 1(b) is an enlarged view of a region B illustrated in FIG. 1(a).





DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.


(Steel Micro-Structure)


A steel micro-structure of a steel sheet according to the present embodiment will be described. The steel micro-structure of the steel sheet according to the present embodiment contains, in volume fraction, tempered martensite: 95% or more, and one or more kinds of ferrite, pearlite, bainite, as-quenched martensite, and retained austenite: less than 5% in total.


With 95% or more of tempered martensite, the steel sheet can have sufficient strength. From this viewpoint, 98% or more of tempered martensite is preferably contained.


In addition, less than 5% of one or more kinds of ferrite, pearlite, bainite, as-quenched martensite, and retained austenite, in total, is allowed.


(Macro Hardness)


Next, hardnesses of the steel sheet according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) schematically illustrate locations and regions for measuring hardnesses of a steel sheet. FIG. 1(a) illustrates a part of a cross section of a steel sheet 10 according to the present embodiment, where the cross section is parallel to a sheet-thickness direction (a sheet-thickness cross section parallel to a rolling direction R). FIG. 1(b) is an enlarged view of a region B illustrated in FIG. 1(a).


A macro hardness of the steel sheet according to an embodiment is measured in a region A illustrated in FIG. 1(a). When a sheet thickness of the steel sheet 10 is denoted by t, the region A is a 300-μm-square region that is set in a cross section parallel to the sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet 10 and is centered about a t/2 point from a surface 10a of the steel sheet 10. At the region A, Vickers hardnesses are measured under a load of 9.8 N at 30 randomly selected points, and a standard deviation of these Vickers hardnesses is determined. The steel sheet according to the present embodiment should make this standard deviation 30 or less. The macro hardness tends to vary if coarse carbides are formed. For that reason, small variations in macro hardness can serve as an indicator of restraint on formation of coarse carbides. By making the standard deviation 30 or less, variations in macro hardness attributable to coarse carbides are decreased, so that crash resistance of the steel sheet can be improved. When an operation of determining the standard deviation of Vickers hardnesses as described above is performed in the same manner at five regions, an arithmetic average value of standard deviations of the regions is preferably 30 or less, and the arithmetic average value is more preferably 25 or less. A fracture that occurs when a steel sheet suffers tensile stress tends to occur from a sheet-thickness center portion. For that reason, it is preferable that variations in hardness are small at the t/2 point. The Vickers hardnesses are thus measured in the region centered about the t/2 point.


(Micro Hardness)


A micro hardness of the steel sheet according to an embodiment is measured in the region B illustrated in FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b). When the sheet thickness of the steel sheet 10 is denoted by t, the region B is a 100-μm-square region that is set in a cross section parallel to the sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet 10 and is centered about a t/2 point from a surface 10a of the steel sheet 10. The region B is divided into 10×10, 100 subregions of equal size, and at a center of each subregion, a nano hardness is measured under a maximum load of 1 mN. That is, the nano hardness is measured under a maximum load of 1 mN at 100 points. Out of the subregions, the number of subregions each of which makes a difference in nano hardness of 3 GPa or more from any one of its eight surrounding subregions should be 10 or less. This will be described below in detail.


As illustrated in FIG. 1(b), if a nano hardness in a given subregion is denoted by H00, eight subregions that surround the given subregion are the “eight surrounding subregions”. If nano hardnesses of the subregions are denoted by H01, H02, H03, H04, H05, H06, H07, and H08, differences in nano hardness are calculated as |H00−H01|, |H00−H02|, |H00−H03|, |H00−H04|, |H00−H05|, |H00−H06|, |H00−H07|, and |H00−H08|. If any one of the eight differences is 3 GPa or more, the given subregion is determined as “a subregion that makes a difference in nano hardness of 3 GPa or more from any one of its eight surrounding subregions”. This operation is performed on 64 subregions, excluding outermost subregions in the region B, and the number of “subregions each of which makes a difference in nano hardness of 3 GPa or more from any one of its eight surrounding subregions” is determined. The steel sheet according to the present embodiment should make this number ten or less. The number is preferably eight or less. Furthermore, the operation of determining nano hardness described above is performed similarly on five regions, and an arithmetic average value of numbers described above is preferably ten or less, and more preferably eight or less. It is considered that variations in micro hardness being small in this manner make variations in hardness attributable to segregation of an element small, and crash resistance of the steel sheet can be improved. Note that the reason for measuring nano hardness in the region centered about the t/2 point is the same as in the measurement of the macro hardness.


(Tensile Strength)


A tensile strength of the steel sheet according to the present embodiment is 1100 MPa or more. In particular, the tensile strength is preferably 1200 MPa or more, more preferably 1400 MPa or more, and still more preferably 1470 MPa or more. The tensile strength of the steel sheet according to the present invention is determined by a tensile test. Specifically, the tensile test is performed in conformance with JIS Z 2241(2011) and using JIS No. 5 test coupons that are taken from the steel sheet in a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction of the steel sheet, and the maximum of measured tensile strengths is determined as the tensile strength of the steel sheet.


(Chemical Composition)


Next, a chemical composition of the steel sheet according to the present embodiment will be described. Note that the symbol “%” for a content of each element means “mass %.”


C: 0.18% or More to 0.40% or Less


C (carbon) is an element that keeps a predetermined amount of martensite to improve a strength of the steel sheet. A content of C being 0.18% or more produces the predetermined amount of martensite, makes it easy to increase the strength of the steel sheet to 1100 MPa or more. Other conditions may make it difficult to obtain a strength of 11000 or more, and thus the content of C is preferably to be 0.22% or more. On the other hand, the content of C is to be 0.40% or less from the viewpoint of restraining embrittlement caused by an excessive increase in the strength of the steel sheet. The content of C is preferably 0.38% or less.


Si: 0.01% or More to 2.50% or Less


Si (silicon) is an element acting as a deoxidizer. In addition, Si is an element that improves the strength of the steel sheet through solid-solution strengthening. In order to obtain these effects by making the steel sheet contain Si, a content of Si is to be 0.01% or more. On the other hand, the content of Si is to be 2.50% or less from the viewpoint of restraining decrease in workability due to embrittlement of the steel sheet. Si is a ferrite stabilizing element; a high content of Si may lead to an excess of a ferrite amount. This can raise a problem particularly when a cooling rate in heat treatment is high. Therefore, the content of Si is preferably less than 0.60%, and more preferably 0.58% or less.


Mn: 0.60% or More to 5.00% or Less


Mn (manganese) is an element acting as a deoxidizer and is also an element improving hardenability. In order to obtain tempered martensite sufficiently with Mn, a content of Mn is to be 0.60% or more. On the other hand, if the content of Mn becomes excessive, coarse Mn oxide is formed and can serve as a starting point of a fracture in press molding. From the viewpoint of restraining workability of the steel sheet from deteriorating in this manner, the content of Mn is to be 5.00% or less.


P: 0.0200% or Less


P (phosphorus) is an impurity element and is an element segregating in a sheet-thickness-center portion of the steel sheet to decrease toughness and embrittling a weld zone. A content of P is preferably as low as possible from the viewpoint of restraining decrease in workability and crash resistance of the steel sheet. Specifically, the content of P is to be 0.0200% or less. The content of P is preferably 0.0100% or less. However, in a case where a content of P of a practical steel sheet is decreased to less than 0.00010%, production costs of the steel sheet significantly increase, which is economically disadvantageous. For that reason, the content of P may be 0.00010% or more.


S: 0.0200% or Less


S (sulfur) is an impurity element and is an element spoiling weldability and spoiling productivity in casting and hot rolling. S is also an element forming coarse MnS to spoil hole expandability. From the viewpoint of restraining decrease in weldability, productivity, and crash resistance, a content of S is preferably as low as possible. Specifically, the content of S is to be 0.0200% or less. The content of S is preferably 0.0100% or less. However, in a case where a content of S of a practical steel sheet is decreased to less than 0.000010%, production costs of the steel sheet significantly increase, which is economically disadvantageous. For that reason, the content of S may be 0.000010% or more.


N: 0.0200% or Less


N (nitrogen) is an element forming coarse nitride to degrade formability and crash resistance of the steel sheet and to cause a blowhole to develop during welding. For this reason, a content of N is preferably to be 0.0200% or less.


O: 0.0200% or Less


O (oxygen) is an element forming coarse oxide to degrade formability and crash resistance of the steel sheet and to cause a blowhole to develop during welding. For this reason, a content of 0 is preferably 0.0200% or less.


Al: 0% or More to 1.00% or Less


Al (aluminum) is an element acting as a deoxidizer and is added when necessary. In order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Al, a content of Al is preferably 0.02% or more. However, the content of Al is preferably 1.00% or less from the viewpoint of restraining coarse Al oxide from being produced to decrease workability of the steel sheet.


Cr: 0% or More to 2.00% or Less


As with Mn, Cr (chromium) is an element being useful in enhancing strength of steel by increasing hardenability. Although a content of Cr may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Cr, the content of Cr is preferably 0.10% or more. On the other hand, the content of Cr is preferably 2.00% or less from the viewpoint of restraining coarse Cr carbide from being formed to decrease cold formability.


Mo: 0% or More to 0.50% or Less


As with Mn and Cr, Mo (molybdenum) is an element being useful in enhancing strength of steel. Although a content of Mo may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Mo, the content of Mo is preferably 0.01% or more. On the other hand, the content of Mo is preferably 0.50% or less from the viewpoint of restraining coarse Mo carbide from being formed to decrease cold workability.


Ti: 0% or More to 0.10% or Less


Ti (titanium) is an element being useful in controlling morphology of carbide. For that reason, Ti may be contained in the steel sheet when necessary. In a case where Ti is contained in the steel sheet, a content of Ti is preferably 0.001% or more. However, from the viewpoint of restraining decrease in workability of the steel sheet, the content of Ti is preferably as low as possible, preferably 0.10% or less.


Nb: 0% or More to 0.100% or Less


As with Ti, Nb (niobium) is an element being useful in controlling morphology of carbide and is also an element being effective at improving toughness by refining the steel micro-structure. For that reason, Nb may be contained in the steel sheet when necessary. In a case where Nb is contained in the steel sheet, a content of Nb is preferably 0.001% or more. However, the content of Nb is preferably 0.100% or less from the viewpoint of restraining fine, hard Nb carbide from precipitating in a large quantity to increase the strength of the steel sheet and degrade ductility of the steel sheet.


B: 0% or More to 0.0100% or Less


B (boron) is an element that restrains ferrite and pearlite from being produced in a cooling process from austenite and accelerates production of a low-temperature transformation structure such as bainite and martensite. In addition, B is an element being beneficial to enhancing strength of steel. For that reason, B may be contained in the steel sheet when necessary. In a case where B is contained in the steel sheet, a content of B is preferably 0.0001% or more. Note that B being less than 0.0001% requires analysis with meticulous attention to detail for its identification and reaches the lower limit of detection for some analyzing apparatus. On the other hand, the content of B is preferably 0.0100% or less from the viewpoint of restraining production of coarse B nitride, which can serve as a starting point of a void occurring in press molding of the steel sheet.


V: 0% or More to 0.50% or Less


As with Ti and Nb, V (vanadium) is an element being useful in controlling morphology of carbide and is also an element being effective at improving toughness of the steel sheet by refining the steel micro-structure. For that reason, V may be contained in the steel sheet when necessary. In a case where V is contained in the steel sheet, a content of V is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, the content of V is preferably 0.50% or less from the viewpoint of restraining fine V carbide from precipitating in a large quantity to increase the strength of the steel sheet and degrade ductility of the steel sheet.


Cu: 0% or More to 0.500% or Less


Cu (copper) is an element that is useful in improving strength of steel.


Although a content of Cu may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Cu, the content of Cu is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, the content of Cu is preferably 0.500% or less from the viewpoint of restraining productivity from being decreased due to hot-shortness in hot rolling.


W: 0% or More to 0.100% or Less


As with Nb and V, W (tungsten) is an element being useful in controlling morphology of carbide and increasing strength of steel. Although a content of W may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain W, the content of W is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, the content of W is preferably 0.100% or less from the viewpoint of restraining fine W carbide from precipitating in a large quantity to increase the strength of the steel sheet and degrade ductility of the steel sheet.


Ta: 0% or More to 0.100% or Less


As with Nb, V, and W, Ta (tantalum) is an element being useful in controlling morphology of carbide and increasing strength of steel. Although a content of Ta may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Ta, the content of Ta is preferably 0.001% or more, and more preferably 0.002% or more. On the other hand, the content of Ta is preferably 0.100% or less, and more preferably 0.080% or less from the viewpoint of restraining fine Ta carbide from precipitating in a large quantity to increase the strength of the steel sheet and degrade ductility of the steel sheet.


Ni: 0% or More to 1.00% or Less


Ni (nickel) is an element that is useful in improving strength of steel. Although a content of Ni may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Ni, the content of Ni is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, the content of Ni is preferably 1.00% or less from the viewpoint of restraining decrease in ductility of the steel sheet.


Co: 0% or More to 1.00% or Less


As with Ni, Co (cobalt) is an element that is useful in improving strength of steel. Although a content of Co may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Co, the content of Co is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, the content of Co is preferably 1.00% or less from the viewpoint of restraining decrease in ductility of the steel sheet.


Sn: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


Sn (tin) is an element that can be contained in steel in a case where scrap is used as a raw material of the steel. A content of Sn is preferably as low as possible and may be 0%. From the viewpoint of restraining cold formability from being decreased due to embrittlement of ferrite, the content of Sn is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less. However, the content of Sn may be 0.001% or more from the viewpoint of restraining increase in refining costs.


Sb: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


As with Sn, Sb (antimony) is an element that can be contained in steel in a case where scrap is used as a raw material of the steel. A content of Sb is preferably as low as possible and may be 0%. From the viewpoint of restraining decrease in cold formability of the steel sheet, the content of Sb is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less. However, the content of Sb may be 0.001% or more from the viewpoint of restraining increase in refining costs.


As: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


As with Sn and Sb, As (arsenic) is an element that can be contained in steel in a case where scrap is used as a raw material of the steel. A content of As is preferably as low as possible and may be 0%. From the viewpoint of restraining decrease in cold formability of the steel sheet, the content of As is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less. However, the content of As may be 0.001% or more from the viewpoint of restraining increase in refining costs.


Mg: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


Mg (magnesium) is an element being, in a trace quantity, capable of controlling morphology of sulfide. Although a content of Mg may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Mg, the content of Mg is preferably 0.0001% or more, and more preferably 0.0005% or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of restraining cold formability from being decreased due to formation of coarse inclusions, the content of Mg is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less.


Ca: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


As with Mg, Ca (calcium) is an element being, in a trace quantity, capable of controlling morphology of sulfide. Although a content of Ca may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Ca, the content of Ca is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of restraining cold formability of the steel sheet from being decreased by production of coarse Ca oxide, the content of Ca is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less.


Y: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


As with Mg and Ca, Y (yttrium) is an element being, in a trace quantity, capable of controlling morphology of sulfide. Although a content of Y may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Y, the content of Y is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of restraining cold formability of the steel sheet from being decreased by production of coarse Y oxide, the content of Y is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less.


Zr: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


As with Mg, Ca, and Y, Zr (zirconium) is an element being, in a trace quantity, capable of controlling morphology of sulfide. Although a content of Zr may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Zr, the content of Zr is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of restraining cold formability of the steel sheet from being decreased by production of coarse Zr oxide, the content of Zr is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less.


La: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


La (lanthanum) is an element being, in a trace quantity, useful in controlling morphology of sulfide. Although a content of La may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain La, the content of La is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of restraining cold formability of the steel sheet from being decreased by production of coarse La oxide, the content of La is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less.


Ce: 0% or More to 0.050% or Less


As with La, Ce (cerium) is an element being, in a trace quantity, useful in controlling morphology of sulfide. Although a content of Ce may be 0%, in order to obtain the effect by making the steel sheet contain Ce, the content of Ce is preferably 0.001% or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of restraining formability of the steel sheet from being decreased by production of Ce oxide, the content of Ce is preferably 0.050% or less, and more preferably 0.040% or less.


The balance of the chemical composition of the steel sheet according to the present embodiment is Fe (iron) and impurities. Examples of the impurities can include elements that are unavoidably contained from row materials of steel or scrap or unavoidably contained in a steel-making process and are allowed to be contained within ranges within which the steel sheet according to the present invention can exert the effects according to the present invention.


(Steel Sheet Including Soft Layer)


The steel sheet according to the present invention may be a steel sheet that includes a substrate layer including the steel sheet described above and a soft layer formed on at least one of surfaces of the substrate layer. The soft layer is determined as follows. First, at a ½ sheet-thickness point, five Vickers hardnesses are measured under an indentation load of 4.9 N on a line that is perpendicular to a sheet-thickness direction and parallel to a rolling direction. An arithmetic average value of the five Vickers hardnesses measured in this manner is defined as an average Vickers hardness Hv0 at the ½ sheet-thickness point. Next, five Vickers hardnesses are measured at each of points that are set every 2% of the sheet thickness from the ½ sheet-thickness point toward the surface, on a line that is perpendicular to the sheet-thickness direction and parallel to the rolling direction. An average value of the five Vickers hardnesses measured in this manner at each of sheet-thickness-direction points is determined, and the average value is defined as an average Vickers hardness at each sheet-thickness-direction point. Next, a surface side of a sheet-thickness-direction point at which an average Vickers hardness is 0.9 times or less the average Vickers hardness Hv0 at the ½ sheet-thickness point is defined as the soft layer.


When the sheet thickness of the steel sheet is denoted by t, a thickness t0 of the soft layer is preferably more than 10 μm and 0.15t or less. Making the thickness of the soft layer more than 10 μm makes it easy to improve bendability of the steel sheet. Making the thickness t0 of the soft layer 0.15t or less restrains excessive decrease in the strength of the steel sheet. The thickness t0 of the soft layer is a thickness of a soft layer per side. The soft layer is to be formed to have a thickness of more than 10 μm and 0.15t or less on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate layer. For example, as long as a soft layer having a thickness of more than 10 μm and 0.15t or less is formed on one surface of the substrate layer, a soft layer formed on the other surface may have a thickness t0 of 10 μm or less. However, it is preferable that soft layers each having a thickness of more than 10 μm and 0.15t or less be formed on both surfaces. Note that the sheet thickness t of the steel sheet according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a specific thickness; however, the sheet thickness t is preferably 0.8 mm or more to 1.8 mm or less.


(Hardness of Soft Layer)


A standard deviation of Vickers hardnesses that are measured at 150 points under a load of 4.9 N at a 10 μm point from a surface of the steel sheet on a cross section parallel to the sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet (a sheet-thickness cross section parallel to the rolling direction R) is preferably 30 or less. In order to reduce starting points of cracks occurring in bending deformation of the steel sheet, uniformity of a steel micro-structure of the soft layer present in an outer layer of the steel sheet is important. An average Vickers hardness Hv1 of the soft layer is preferably 0.9 times or less the average Vickers hardness Hv0 at the t/2 point, more preferably 0.8 times or less, and still more preferably 0.7 times or less. This is because the relatively softer the soft layer in the outer layer, the more easily the bendability of the steel sheet is improved. The determination of the average Vickers hardness Hv0 at the t/2 point is as described above, and the average Vickers hardness Hv1 of the soft layer is an average value of ten Vickers hardnesses measured at ten randomly selected points under a load of 4.9 N in the soft layer defined as described above.


(Plated Steel Sheet)


The steel sheet according to the present embodiment may include a plating layer on its surface. The plating layer may be any one of, for example, a galvanized layer, a galvannealed layer, and an electrogalvanized layer.


(Production Method)


Next, a production method of the steel sheet according to the present embodiment will be described. The production method described below is an example of a production method of the steel sheet according to the present embodiment, which is not limited to the method described below.


A cast piece having the chemical composition is produced, and from the obtained cast piece, the steel sheet according to the present embodiment can be produced by the following production method.


“Casting Step”


There are no specific constraints on a method for producing the cast piece from molten steel having the chemical composition; for example, the cast piece may be produced by a typical method such as continuous slab caster and a thin slab caster.


“Hot Rolling Step”


There are no specific constraints on hot rolling conditions, either. For example, in a hot rolling step, it is preferable that the cast piece be first heated to 1100° C. or more and subjected to holding treatment for 20 minutes or more. This is for driving remelting of coarse inclusions. A heating temperature is more preferably 1200° C. or more, and a holding duration is more preferably 25 minutes or more. The heating temperature is preferably 1350° C. or less, and the holding duration is preferably 60 minutes or less.


In the hot rolling step, when the cast piece heated as described above is subjected to hot rolling, it is preferable that the cast piece be subjected to finish rolling in a temperature range of 850° C. or more to 1000° C. or less. In the finish rolling, a more preferable lower limit is 860° C., and a more preferable upper limit is 950° C.


“Coiling Step”


The hot-rolled steel sheet subjected to the finish rolling is coiled into a coil at 550° C. or less. Setting a coiling temperature at 550° C. or less makes it possible to restrain concentration of alloying elements such as Mn and Si in carbide that is produced in the coiling step. This enables undissolved carbide in the steel sheet to be reduced sufficiently in a multi-step heat treatment to be described later. As a result, it becomes easy to keep the macro hardness and the micro hardness within their respective ranges defined in the present invention, which enables improvement in the crash resistance of the steel sheet. The coiling temperature is preferably 500° C. or less. The coiling temperature is preferably 20° C. or more because coiling at a temperature about room temperature decreases productivity.


When necessary, the hot-rolled steel sheet may be subjected to reheating treatment for softening.


“Pickling Step”


The coiled hot-rolled steel sheet is uncoiled and subjected to pickling. By pickling, oxide scales on surfaces of the hot-rolled steel sheet can be removed, which allows improvement in chemical treatment properties and plating properties of a cold-rolled steel sheet. The pickling may be performed once or may be performed a plurality of times.


“Cold Rolling Step”


The pickled hot-rolled steel sheet is subjected to cold rolling at a rolling reduction of 30% or more to 90% or less. Setting the rolling reduction at 30% or more makes it easy to keep a shape of the steel sheet flat and to restrain decrease in ductility of the finished product. On the other hand, setting the rolling reduction at 90% or less makes it possible to restrain a cold rolling load from becoming excessive, which makes the cold rolling easy. A lower limit of the rolling reduction is preferably to be 45%, and an upper limit of the rolling reduction is preferably to be 70%. There are no specific constraints on the number of rolling passes and the rolling reduction in each pass.


“Multi-Step Heat Treatment Step”


After the cold rolling step, the steel sheet according to the present invention is subjected to at least two heat treatments to be produced.


(First Heat Treatment)


In first heat treatment, the steel sheet is first subjected to a heating step in which the steel sheet is heated to a temperature of an Ac3 point or more to 1000° C. or less and is held for 10 seconds or more. In a case of producing a steel sheet including a soft layer on its surface, dew-point control is performed to form an atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of 1.0×10−21 [atm] (1.013×10−16 [Pa]) or more, and the steel sheet is subjected to a heating step in which the steel sheet is heated to a temperature of the Ac3 point or more to 1000° C. or less and is held for 20 seconds or more. Thereafter, a cooling step for cooling the steel sheet is performed under the following condition 1) or 2).


1) The steel sheet is cooled to a temperature range of 25° C. or more to 300° C. or less at an average cooling rate of 20° C./sec or more.


2) The steel sheet is cooled to a cooling stop temperature of 600° C. or more to 750° C. or less at an average cooling rate of 0.5° C./sec or more to less than 20° C./sec (first-stage cooling) and then cooled to a cooling stop temperature of 25° C. or more to 300° C. or less at an average cooling rate of 20° C./sec or more. An excessively high average cooling rate may tend to cause a poor shape such as bends to occur in the steel sheet, degrading bendability; therefore, the average cooling rates are preferably set at 200° C./sec or less.


Note that the Ac3 point is determined by the following Formula (a). In Formula (a), each symbol of an element indicates a content of the element (mass %). A symbol of an element that is not contained in steel is to be substituted by zero.





Ac3 point (° C.)=901−203×√C−15.2×Ni+44.7×Si+104×V+31.5×Mo+13.1×W  Formula (a)


By the first heat treatment step, the steel micro-structure of the steel sheet is formed into a steel micro-structure that mainly includes as-quenched martensite or tempered martensite. Martensite is a steel micro-structure that contains grain boundaries and dislocations in a large quantity. In grain boundary diffusion in which grain boundaries serve as diffusion paths and in dislocation diffusion in which dislocations serve as diffusion paths, elements diffuse faster than in intraparticle diffusion in which elements diffuse inside grains. Since dissolving of carbide is a phenomenon attributable to diffusion of elements, the more grain boundaries are present, the more easily carbide is dissolved. By accelerating dissolving of carbide, carbide is restrained from segregating.


Setting the heating temperature at the Ac3 point or more makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of austenite during heating and makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of tempered martensite after cooling. If the heating temperature is more than 1000° C., austenite becomes coarse, and variations in hardness are increased, resulting in a failure to obtain desired properties. Setting the holding duration at 10 seconds or more during heating makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of austenite and makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of tempered martensite after cooling.


When the heat treatment is performed in the atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of 1.0×10−21 [atm] or more, decarburization progresses in an outer layer of the steel sheet, as a result of which a soft layer is formed in the outer layer of the steel sheet. In order to obtain a steel sheet including a desired soft layer, it is necessary to control an oxygen partial pressure: PO2 of furnace atmosphere within an appropriate range; the oxygen partial pressure is preferably set at 1.0×10−21 [atm] or more.


In the cooling step described in 1), setting the average cooling rate at 20° C./sec or more causes sufficient quenching, which makes it easy to obtain martensite. This enables dissolving of carbide to sufficiently progress in second heat treatment to be described later. Setting the cooling stop temperature at 25° C. or more makes it possible to restrain decrease in productivity. Setting the cooling stop temperature at 300° C. or less makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of martensite. This enables dissolving of carbide to sufficiently progress in the second heat treatment to be described later.


The cooling step described in 2) is performed, for example, in a case where the steel sheet is rapidly cooled through a slow-cooling zone. In the first-stage cooling, setting the average cooling rate at less than 20° C./sec makes it possible to produce ferrite and pearlite. However, with the chemical composition, ferrite transformation and pearlite transformation are unlikely to occur, which can make it easy to restrain excessive production of ferrite and pearlite. Setting the cooling rate in the first-stage cooling at 20° C./sec or more only leads to the same result as in the case where the cooling step described in 1) is performed, and a material quality of the steel sheet does not necessarily deteriorate. At the same time, setting the average cooling rate in the first-stage cooling at 0.5° C./sec or more restrains excessive progress of the ferrite transformation and the pearlite transformation, which makes it easy to obtain a predetermined amount of martensite.


(Second Heat Treatment)


In the second heat treatment, the steel sheet is first subjected to a heating step in which the steel sheet is reheated to a temperature of the Ac3 point or more and is held for 10 seconds or more. In a case of producing a steel sheet including a soft layer on its surface, dew-point control is performed to form an atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of 1.0×10−21 [atm] (1.013×10−16 [Pa]) or more, and the steel sheet is subjected to a heating step in which the steel sheet is reheated to the temperature of the Ac3 point or more and is held for 10 seconds or more. Thereafter, a cooling step for cooling the steel sheet is performed under the following condition 1) or 2).


1) The steel sheet is cooled to a temperature range of 25° C. or more to 300° C. or less at an average cooling rate of 20° C./sec or more.


2) The steel sheet is cooled to a cooling stop temperature of 600° C. or more to 750° C. or less at an average cooling rate of 0.5° C./sec or more to less than 20° C./sec (first-stage cooling) and then cooled to a cooling stop temperature of 25° C. or more to 300° C. or less at an average cooling rate of 20° C./sec or more.


By the first heat treatment step, a steel micro-structure that mainly includes as-quenched martensite or tempered martensite is formed, where elements easily diffuse. By further performing the second heat treatment step, the steel micro-structure can be formulated, and a sufficient amount of coarse carbide in the substrate layer of the steel sheet can be dissolved. This makes it possible to sufficiently reduce segregation of carbide. As a result, it is possible to increase uniformities in the macro hardness and the micro hardness of the substrate layer.


Setting the heating temperature at the Ac3 point or more makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of austenite during heating and makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of tempered martensite after cooling. Setting the holding duration at 10 seconds or more during heating makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of austenite and makes it easy to obtain a sufficient amount of tempered martensite after cooling. Setting the holding duration at 10 seconds or more during heating makes it possible to dissolve carbide sufficiently.


In a case of producing a steel sheet including a soft layer on its surface, the heat treatment is performed in an atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of 1.0×10−21 [atm] or more as described above. By the heat treatment in this manner, decarburization progresses in the outer layer of the steel sheet, as a result of which a soft layer is formed in the outer layer of the steel sheet. In order to obtain a steel sheet including a desired soft layer, it is necessary to control an oxygen partial pressure: Poe of furnace atmosphere within an appropriate range; the oxygen partial pressure is preferably set at 1.0×10−21 [atm] or more.


In the cooling step described in 1), setting the average cooling rate at 20° C./sec or more causes sufficient quenching, which makes it easy to obtain desired tempered martensite. For that reason, a tensile strength of the steel sheet can be increased to 1100 MPa or more. Setting the cooling stop temperature at 25° C. or more makes it possible to restrain decrease in productivity. Setting the cooling stop temperature at 300° C. or less makes it easy to obtain desired tempered martensite. For that reason, a tensile strength of the steel sheet can be increased to 1100 MPa or more.


The cooling step described in 2) is performed, for example, in a case where the steel sheet is rapidly cooled through a slow-cooling zone. In the first-stage cooling, setting the average cooling rate at less than 20° C./sec makes it possible to produce ferrite and pearlite. However, with the chemical composition, ferrite transformation and pearlite transformation are unlikely to occur, which can make it easy to restrain excessive production of ferrite and pearlite. Setting the cooling rate in the first-stage cooling at 20° C./sec or more only leads to the same result as in the case where the cooling step described in 1) is performed, and a material quality of the steel sheet does not necessarily deteriorate. At the same time, setting the average cooling rate in the first-stage cooling at 0.5° C./sec or more restrains excessive progress of the ferrite transformation and the pearlite transformation, which makes it easy to obtain a desired amount of martensite.


Although effects of the multi-step heat treatment step are sufficiently exerted by performing the two heat treatments, three or more heat treatment steps may be performed in total by performing the second heat treatment step a plurality of times after the first heat treatment step. In a case of producing a steel sheet including a soft layer, the oxygen partial pressure is to be set at 1.0×10−21 [atm] or more in at least one of the first heat treatment and the second heat treatment.


“Holding Step”


After the cooling in the last heat treatment step in the multi-step heat treatment step, the steel sheet is held in a temperature range of 450° C. or less to 150° C. or more for 10 seconds or more to 500 seconds or less. In this holding step, the steel sheet may be held at a constant temperature or may be heated and cooled in the middle of the step as appropriate. Through this holding step, the as-quenched martensite obtained by the cooling can be tempered. Setting the holding temperature at 450° C. or less to 150° C. or more makes it possible to restrain the tempering from progressing excessively to increase the tensile strength of the steel sheet to 1100 MPa or more. Setting the holding duration at 10 seconds or more makes it possible to cause the tempering to progress sufficiently. In addition, setting a tempering duration at 500 seconds or less makes it possible to restrain the tempering from progressing excessively to increase the tensile strength of the steel sheet to 1100 MPa or more.


“Tempering Step”


After the holding step, the steel sheet may be tempered. This tempering step may be a step in which the steel sheet is held or reheated at a predetermined temperature in the middle of cooling to room temperature after the holding step or may be a step in which the steel sheet is reheated to the predetermined temperature after the cooling to room temperature has been finished. A method for heating the steel sheet in the tempering step is not limited to a specific method. However, from the viewpoint of restraining decrease in the strength of the steel sheet, the holding temperature or the heating temperature in the tempering step is preferably 500° C. or less. Before the holding step, austenite may not be transformed into martensite but remain as it is; if such austenite is quenched during or after the holding step, an excess of as-quenched martensite may be produced in the steel sheet. By performing the tempering step after the holding step, such as-quenched martensite can be tempered.


“Plating Step”


The steel sheet may be subjected to plating treatment such as electrolytic plating treatment and deposition plating treatment and may be further subjected to galvannealing treatment after the plating treatment. The steel sheet may be subjected to surface treatment such as formation of an organic coating film, film laminating, treatment with organic salt or inorganic salt, and non-chromium treatment.


In a case where galvanizing treatment is performed on the steel sheet as the plating treatment, the steel sheet is heated or cooled to a temperature of (temperature of galvanizing bath−40° C.) to (temperature of galvanizing bath+50° C.) and immersed in a galvanizing bath. Through the galvanizing treatment, a steel sheet with a galvanized layer on its surface, that is, a galvanized steel sheet is obtained. As the galvanized layer, for example, one having a chemical composition containing Fe: 7 mass % or more to 15 mass % or less, with the balance expressed as: Zn, Al, and impurities can be used. Alternatively, the galvanized layer may be made of a zinc alloy.


In a case where the galvannealing treatment is performed after the galvanizing treatment, the galvanized steel sheet is heated to a temperature of 460° C. or more to 600° C. or less, for example. Setting this heating temperature at 460° C. or more allows the steel sheet to be galvannealed sufficiently. Setting this heating temperature at 600° C. or less makes it possible to restrain the steel sheet from being galvannealed excessively and deteriorating in corrosion resistance. Through such galvannealing treatment, a steel sheet with a galvannealed layer on its surface, that is, a galvannealed steel sheet is obtained.


Example 1

Next, Example of the present invention will be described; however, conditions described in Example are merely an example of conditions that was adopted for confirming feasibility and effects of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this example of conditions. In the present invention, various conditions can be adopted as long as the conditions allow the objective of the present invention to be achieved without departing from the gist of the present invention.


Cast pieces having chemical compositions shown in Tables 1 to 3 and Tables 11 to 13 were subjected to hot rolling under conditions shown in Tables 4 to 6 and Tables 14 to 16 and then coiled. The resulting hot-rolled steel sheets were subjected to cold rolling under conditions shown in Tables 4 to 6 and Tables 14 to 16. Subsequently, the resulting cold-rolled steel sheets were subjected to heat treatment under conditions shown in Tables 4 to 6 and Tables 14 to 16. Some of the steel sheets were plated by a conventional method, and some of the plated steel sheets were subjected to galvannealing treatment by a conventional method. The steel sheets obtained in this manner were subjected to identification of their steel micro-structures, measurement of their hardnesses and tensile strengths, and a bending test and a hole expansion test for evaluating their crash resistances, by the following methods. The results are shown in Tables 7 to 10 and Tables 17 to 20.


(Identification of Steel Micro-Structures)


In the present invention, identification of steel micro-structures and calculation of their volume fractions are performed as follows.


“Ferrite”


First, a sample including a sheet-thickness cross section that is parallel to a rolling direction of a steel sheet is taken, and the cross section is determined as an observation surface. Of the observation surface, a 100 μm×100 μm region centered about a ¼ sheet-thickness point from a surface of the steel sheet is determined as an observation region. An electron channeling contrast image, which is seen by observing this observation region under a scanning electron microscope at 1000 to 50000× magnification, is an image illustrating a difference in crystal orientation between grains in a form of a difference in contrast. In this electron channeling contrast image, an area of a uniform contrast illustrates ferrite. An area fraction of ferrite identified in this manner is then calculated by a point counting procedure (conforming to ASTM E562). The area fraction of ferrite calculated in this manner is regarded as a volume fraction of ferrite.


“Pearlite”


First, the observation surface is etched with Nital reagent. Of the etched observation surface, a 100 μm×100 μm region centered about a ¼ sheet-thickness point from a surface of the steel sheet is determined as an observation region. This observation region is observed under an optical microscope at 1000 to 50000× magnification, and in an observed image, an area of a dark contrast is regarded as pearlite. An area fraction of pearlite identified in this manner is then calculated by the point counting procedure. The area fraction of pearlite calculated in this manner is regarded as a volume fraction of pearlite.


“Bainite and Tempered Martensite”


An observation region obtained by the etching with Nital reagent is observed under a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) at 1000 to 50000× magnification. In this observation region, bainite and tempered Martensite are identified from positions and arrangement of cementite grains included inside a steel micro-structure, as follows.


Bainite is present in a state where cementite or retained austenite grains are present in lath bainitic ferrite boundaries and in a state where cementite is present inside lath bainitic ferrite. In a case where cementite or retained austenite grains are present in the lath bainitic ferrite boundaries, the bainitic ferrite boundaries are found, so that bainite can be identified. In a case where cementite is present inside the lath bainitic ferrite, the number of relations in crystal orientation between bainitic ferrite and cementite is one, and cementite grains have the same variant, so that bainite can be identified. An area fraction of bainite identified in this manner is calculated by the point counting procedure. The area fraction of bainite is regarded as a volume fraction of bainite.


In tempered martensite, cementite grains are present inside martensite laths; the number of relations in crystal orientation between martensite laths and cementite is two or more, and cementite has a plurality of variants, so that tempered martensite can be identified. An area fraction of tempered martensite identified in this manner is calculated by the point counting procedure. The area fraction of tempered martensite is regarded as a volume fraction of tempered martensite.


“As-Quenched Martensite”


First, an observation surface similar to the observation surface used for the identification of ferrite is etched with LePera reagent, and a region similar to that used for the identification of ferrite is determined as an observation region. In the etching with the LePera reagent, martensite and retained austenite are not etched. For that reason, the observation region etched with the LePera reagent is observed under the FE-SEM, and areas that are not etched are regarded as martensite and retained austenite. Then, a total area fraction of martensite and retained austenite identified in this manner is calculated by the point counting procedure, and the area fraction is regarded as a total volume fraction of martensite and retained austenite.


Next, from the total volume fraction, a volume fraction of retained austenite that is calculated as follows is subtracted, so that a volume fraction of as-quenched martensite can be calculated.


“Retained Austenite”


In the present invention, an area fraction of retained austenite is determined by X-ray measurement as follows. First, a portion of the steel sheet from its surface to ¼ of its sheet thickness is removed by mechanical polishing and chemical polishing. Next, a surface subjected to the chemical polishing is subjected to measurement using MoKα X-ray as a characteristic X-ray. Then, based on an integrated intensity ratio between diffraction peaks of (200) and (211) of a body-centered cubic lattice (bcc) phase and diffraction peaks of (200), (220), and (311) of a face-centered cubic lattice (fcc) phase, an area fraction Sγ of retained austenite is calculated by the following formula. The area fraction Sγ of retained austenite calculated in this manner is regarded as a volume fraction of retained austenite.






Sγ=(I200f+I220f+I311f)/(I200b+I211b)×100


Here, I200f, I220f, and I311f represent intensities of diffraction peaks of (200), (220), and (311) of an fcc phase, respectively, and I200b and I211b represent intensities of diffraction peaks of (200) and (211) of a bcc phase, respectively.


(Thickness of Soft Layer)


A method for measuring the thickness t0 of a soft layer, that is, a definition of a soft layer is as described above.


(Measurement of Hardness)


A method for measuring the macro hardness of the steel sheet is as described above. That is, in a 300-μm-square region that is set in a cross section parallel to a sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet and is centered about a t/2 point from a surface of the steel sheet, Vickers hardnesses are measured under a load of 9.8 N at 30 randomly-selected points, and a standard deviation of these Vickers hardnesses (macro-hardness standard deviation) is determined. In addition, a method for measuring the micro hardness of the steel sheet is as described above. That is, in a 100-μm-square region that is set in a cross section parallel to the sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet and is centered about a t/2 point from the surface of the steel sheet, the region is divided into 10×10, 100 subregions of equal size. At a center of each subregion, a nano hardness is measured under a maximum load of 1 mN. Then, out of the subregions, the number of subregions each of which makes a difference in nano hardness of 3 GPa or more from any one of its eight surrounding subregions (micro-hardness variation) was determined.


A method for measuring a hardness of the soft layer is as described above. That is, at a 10 μm point from a surface of the steel sheet on a cross section parallel to the sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet, Vickers hardnesses are measured at 150 points under a load of 4.9 N, and a standard deviation of the Vickers hardnesses was determined. A method for measuring an average Vickers hardness Hv1 of the soft layer is as described above.


In the present example, soft layers are formed on both surfaces of the steel sheet; however, thicknesses of the soft layers formed on respective surfaces under the production conditions make no significant difference, and thus the tables show thicknesses of soft layers each formed on one surface.


(Measurement of Tensile Strength TS and Elongation El)


Measurement was performed in conformance with JIS Z 2241(2011) and using No. 5 test coupons that were taken from the steel sheet in a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction of the steel sheet, and tensile strengths TS (MPa) and elongations El (%) were determined.


(Bending Test)


Bendability was evaluated in accordance with the VDA standard (VDA238-100) defined by German Association of the Automotive Industry under the following measurement conditions. In the present invention, a maximum bending angle α was determined by converting a displacement at a maximum load obtained by the bending test into an angle in accordance with the VDA standard. A test specimen resulting in a maximum bending angle α (deg) of 2.37t2−14t+65 or more was rated as good. For a steel sheet including a soft layer, a test specimen resulting in a maximum bending angle α (deg) of 2.37t2−14t+80 or more was rated as good. Here, t denotes a sheet thickness (mm).


Test specimen dimensions: 60 mm (rolling direction)×60 mm (direction perpendicular to rolling direction)


Bending ridge line: A punch was pressed such that a bending ridge line extends in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction.


Test method: Roll supported, punch press


Distance between rolls: ϕ30 mm


Punch shape: Tip R=0.4 mm


Support spacing: 2.0×Sheet thickness (mm)+0.5 mm


Pressing speed: 20 mm/min


Test machine: SIMADZU AUTOGRAPH 20 kN


(Measurement of Limiting Hole Expansion Ratio)


In measurement of a limiting hole expansion ratio (λ), first, a piece of sheet measuring 90 mm±10 mm each side was cut out, and a hole having a diameter of 10 mm was punched at a center of the piece of sheet, by which a test specimen for hole expansion is prepared. A clearance of the punching was set at 12.5%. The test specimen was placed at a position at which a distance between a tip of a cone-shaped jig for the hole expansion and a center portion of the punched hole is within ±1 mm, and a hole expansion value was measured in conformity with JIS Z 2256 (2010).


(Evaluation of Crash Resistance)


For evaluation of crash resistance, in the bending test, a test specimen resulting in a maximum bending angle α (deg) of 2.37t2−14t+65 or more (for a steel sheet including a soft layer, a maximum bending angle α (deg) of 2.37t2−14t+80 or more), TS×El of 13000 or more, and TS×λ of 33000 or more was rated as “◯”, and a test specimen failed to satisfy any one of them was rated as “x”.










TABLE 1








Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)






















No
C
Si
Mn
P
S
N
O
Al
B
Ti
Nb
V
Mo
Cr
Co





1
0.31
0.37
4.40
0.0150
0.0155
0.0118
0.0015
0.17

0.01
0.003






2
0.25
1.79
4.70
0.0014
0.0100
0.0035
0.0001
0.44
0.0018




0.20



3
0.35
1.14
4.40
0.0028
0.0120
0.0003
0.0030
0.22
0.0058



0.15




4
0.24
1.47
3.60
0.0043
0.0018
0.0119
0.0153
0.10
0.0020
0.09

0.08





5
0.22
0.82
3.40
0.0046
0.0132
0.0150
0.0034
0.05




0.05




6
0.25
0.64
2.80
0.0017
0.0064
0.0187
0.0015
0.01
0.0020
0.02
0.021

0.10




7
0.37
1.49
2.10
0.0126
0.0168
0.0151
0.0045

0.0010








8
0.20
1.15
1.30
0.0038
0.0016
0.0138
0.0015
0.11
0.0042








9
0.20
0.22
4.50
0.0047
0.0009
0.0182
0.0031
0.18
0.0006








10
0.19
0.71
0.80
0.0026
0.0016
0.0107
0.0037
0.21
0.0008

0.020






11
0.28
1.90
3.10
0.0027
0.0047
0.0180
0.0005
0.06
0.0014
0.10


0.15




12
0.36
1.31
4.00
0.0113
0.0015
0.0156
0.0040
0.20









13
0.38
0.88
2.20
0.0005
0.0033
0.0071
0.0156
0.15
0.0082








14
0.36
1.23
2.30
0.0186
0.0009
0.0049
0.0004
0.23
0.0006




1.58



15
0.33
0.88
3.90
0.0038
0.0030
0.0108
0.0149
0.06









16
0.29
0.17
1.60
0.0020
0.0029
0.0016
0.0001
0.58
0.0018








17
0.35
1.58
1.30
0.0001
0.0092
0.0040
0.0033
0.02
0.0018








18
0.29
0.05
2.20
0.0007
0.0010
0.0035
0.0103
0.15
0.0079








19
0.31
1.55
2.00
0.0027
0.0037
0.0068
0.0025

0.0016





0.20


20
0.26
0.68
1.10
0.0002
0.0037
0.0067
0.0051
0.16
0.0007



0.13
0.50















Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No
Ni
Cu
W
Ta
Sn
Sb
As
Mg
Ca
Y
Zr
La
Ce
Ac3






1













804



2













879



3













837



4





0.015







876



5













843



6




0.012








831



7
0.32
0.091











839



8













861



9



0.010









821



10






0.021






844



11













884



12







0.004




0.010
838



13










0.016
0.002

816



14









0.007



835



15








0.005




824



16
0.72












788



17


0.008










851



18

0.2 











793



19













857



20













833

















TABLE 2








Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)






















No
C
Si
Mn
P
S
N
O
Al
B
Ti
Nb
V
Mo
Cr
Co





21
0.18
0.27
1.30
0.0030
0.0068
0.0006
0.0012
0.58
0.0016
0.0.1







22
0.18
1.91
1.50
0.0027
0.0016
0.0023
0.0014
0.10
0.0008

0.013






23
0.21
0.38
0.80
0.0036
0.0164
0.0007
0.0156
0.67
0.0012




0.23



24
0.18
0.44
0.60
0.0016
0.0115
0.0015
0.0015
0.03
0.0016
0.05







25
0.19
0.20
1.70
0.0014
0.0171
0.0055
0.0022
0.08
0.0010

0.038
0.22





26
0.34
0.10
0.90
0.0006
0.0015
0.0113
0.0137
0.23
0.0019







0.12


27
0.20
1.44
1.10
0.0027
0.0180
0.0034
0.0035
0.06
0.0019

0.018






28
0.21
0.34
2.30
0.0079
0.0029
0.0011
0.0030
0.17
0.0008
0.01


0.15




29
0.19
0.33
4.10
0.0013
0.0044
0.0045
0.0028
0.15


0.043








30
0.20
0.82
1.60
0.0040
0.0012
0.0035
0.0015
0.74
0.0068

0.015
0.05





31
0.37
0.47
1.40
0.0052
0.0004
0.0033
0.0181
0.08
0.0030
0.01







32
0.36
0.53
0.60
0.0024
0.0103
0.0033
0.0035

0.0016


0.41





33
0.18
0.20
4.00
0.0031
0.0130
0.0027
0.0121

0.0011


0.14






34


0.15

1.45
3.70
0.0011
0.0024
0.0014
0.0011
0.14
0.0079









35


0.41

0.82
4.50
0.0021
0.0007
0.0072
0.0028
0.10
0.0002









36

0.38

2.60

2.60
0.0155
0.0003
0.0173
0.0013
0.12
0.0011









37

0.26
0.03

0.25

0.0024
0.0162
0.0012
0.0047
0.72
0.0014









38

0.21
0.54

5.10

0.0013
0.0176
0.0049
0.0025
0.67
0.0079









39

0.37
1.72
4.00

0.0205

0.0014
0.0127
0.0150
0.16
0.0020




0.34




40

0.32
0.69
2.10
0.0009

0.0208

0.0131
0.0028
0.02
0.0006




















Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No
Ni
Cu
W
Ta
Sn
Sb
As
Mg
Ca
Y
Zr
La
Ce
Ac3






21













826



22













899



23













824



24
0.32












829



25













844



26













787



27













874



28













827



29


0.020










831



30





0.020







852



31













799



32













846



33













838




34














887




35














808




36






0.011







892




37














799




38














833




39














854




40














817





Underline shows that it does not meet the claimed range.














TABLE 3








Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)






















No
C
Si
Mn
P
S
N
O
Al
B
Ti
Nb
V
Mo
Cr
Co






41

0.33
1.10
2.40
0.0029
0.0119

0.0206

0.0036
0.49
0.0020









42

0.34
1.11
3.80
0.0011
0.0034
0.0062
0.0031

1.03

0.0001









43

0.30
0.01
3.60
0.0022
0.0033
0.0055
0.0024
0.13

0.0103










44

0.25
0.36
3.80
0.0001
0.0062
0.0101
0.0022
0.05
0.0013

0.10









45

0.36
0.50
3.00
0.0012
0.0001
0.0141
0.0020
0.05
0.0015


0.103








46

0.28
0.21
2.80
0.0036
0.0018
0.0133
0.0045
0.74
0.0091



0.52







47

0.25
0.44
1.30
0.0032
0.0044
0.0050

0.0204

0.15
0.0048









48

0.30
1.19
1.80
0.0001
0.0015
0.0183
0.0039
0.18
0.0002




0.52






49

0.34
0.65
2.20
0.0122
0.0012
0.0094
0.0171
0.03
0.0066





2.04





50

0.29
1.50
1.70
0.0008
0.0055
0.0090
0.0037
0.04
0.0018






1.20




51

0.38
1.59
1.60
0.0001
0.0032
0.0189
0.0021
0.11
0.0019








52
0.38
0.54
4.70
0.0056
0.0179
0.0028
0.0124
0.10
0.0006









53

0.28
1.87
4.10
0.0144
0.0008
0.0022
0.0035
0.16
0.0024









54

0.23
1.56
2.90
0.0042
0.0033
0.0136
0.0011

0.0006









55

0.21
1.37
2.70
0.0039
0.0046
0.0147
0.0017
0.12
0.0018









56

0.24
0.78
1.40
0.0010
0.0004
0.0099
0.0021
0.38










57

0.28
0.89
3.00
0.0041
0.0158
0.0051
0.0001
0.01
0.0016









58

0.34
0.46
2.10
0.0091
0.0021
0.0112
0.0086
0.07
0.0010









59

0.21
1.05
3.80
0.0021
0.0103
0.0039
0.0044
0.10
0.0018









60

0.27
0.44
4.00
0.0122
0.0040
0.0068
0.0009
0.17










61

0.36
0.99
2.50
0.0026
0.0006
0.0167
0.0028

0.0020









62

0.36
1.43
3.60
0.0014
0.0024
0.0102
0.0027
0.06
0.0052









63

0.28
0.64
0.60
0.0030
0.0031
0.0105
0.0148
0.04
0.0002








64
0.25
0.50
2.80
0.0017
0.0064
0.0187
0.0015
0.01
0.0020
0.02
0.021














Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No
Ni
Cu
W
Ta
Sn
Sb
As
Mg
Ca
Y
Zr
La
Ce
Ac3







41














834




42














832




43














791




44














817




45














802




46














857




47














819




48














860




49














812




50














859




51


1.04













831




52



0.52












800




53




0.102



0.032







879




54





0.102










873




55






0.052









869




56







0.052








836




57








0.051







834




58









0.051






804




59










0.052





854




60











0.051




816




61












0.051



824




62













0.052


844




63














0.051

822



64













825





Underline shows that it does not meet the claimed range.

















TABLE 4










First Heat Treatment
Second

















Cold


First-stage


Heat



Hot Rolling
Rolling


Cooling


Treatment



















Heat
Finish
Coiling
Rolling
Heat
Held

Stop
Colling
Stop
Heat



Temp.
Temp.
Temp.
Reduction
Temp.
Time
Colling
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.


No.
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(%)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)




















A
1,228
958
213
53
900
375

31
230
900


B
1,338
899
543
84
890
225

45
187
890


C
1,337
975
331
30
880
90

32
233
880


D
1,263
867
116
66
890
314

82
99
890


E
1,114
978
120
62
880
403

120
158
880


F
1,242
951
109
37
855
267

174
226
860


G
1,165
917
135
41
850
273

168
209
851


H
1,129
890
343
88
890
170

35
299
875


I
1,293
860
386
58
832
480

93
182
880


J
1,256
884
330
69
860
592

142
229
870


K
1,261
941
334
63
895
449

101
149
900


L
1,301
860
190
80
860
319

161
123
871


M
1,319
988
215
43
880
194

53
274
875


N
1,258
934
251
60
885
41

112
211
877


O
1,159
888
414
74
839
580

168
54
843


P
1,283
973
291
74
880
169

145
81
880


Q
1,174
904
132
43
890
102

63
60
870


R
1,128
950
 68
44
890
106

194
91
890


S
1,273
975
270
81
879
341

40
32
880


T
1,247
922
397
55
888
185

86
67
890

















Second Heat Treatment






















First-stage
























Cooling



Tempering





















Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Holding
Holding
Heat
Held





Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time
Temp.
Time
Plating



No.
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C.)
(sec)
Existence





















A
130

45
210
100
150


None



B
95

36
180
250
300


None



C
110

22
105
105
100
250
60
None



D
115

146
70
70
100
300
90
None



















E
440
32
701
99
150
100
130
350
150
None


















F
472

38
59
50
50
440
300
None



G
316

38
53
50
30
458
500
None



H
469

131
202
250
40


None



I
510

59
162
200
100


None



J
346

67
156
250
400


None



K
390

72
134
300
150


None



L
207

141
200
150
300


None



















M
206
5
680
171
200
350
210


None


















N
14

86
159
150
30


None



O
269

100
118
118
100


Existence



P
123

150
83
80
40


None



















Q
170
22
603
160
259
300
100


None


















R
248

176
256
300
100


Existence












(Galvannealed)



S
340

136
216
250
100


None



T
221

78
208
200
50


None



















TABLE 5









First Heat Treatment













Cold

First-stage















Hot Rolling
Rolling

Cooling

Second Heat Treatment




















Heat
Finish
Coiling
Rolling
Heat
Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Heat
Held



Temp.
Temp.
Temp.
Reduction
Temp.
Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time


No.
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(%)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)





















U
1,217
935
270
49
900
544

111
103
900
282


V
1,125
949
121
37
910
387

59
276
920
124


W
1,269
901
479
80
880
264

162
125
880
52


X
1,211
917
393
65
883
400

122
284
884
465



















Y
1,215
974
386
53
890
453
23
691
124
98
881
363


Z
1,120
880
535
57
876
363
29
619
33
155
854
445


AA
1,307
894
408
49
900
446
11
644
73
104
900
124


















AB
1,166
956
 80
88
886
146

106
244
890
221


AC
1,166
956
 80
88
886
146

106
244
870
221



















AD
1,177
879
185
51
870
255
30
682
181
233
880
409



















AE


1,093

925
380
78
833
 29

161
122
819
523











AF

1,271

846





















AG

1,326

1005

315
32
877
516

73
74

820

368



AH

1,149
976

561

69
838
294

99
144
852
483













AI

1,231
974
 80

28





AJ

1,334
867
287

92





















AK

1,346
985
163
60

798

480

27
136
865
255



AL

1,306
898
328
47
850
0

160
222
880
417















Second Heat Treatment













First-stage













Cooling

Tempering




















Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Holding
Holding
Heat
Held





Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time
Temp.
Time
Plating



No.
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C.)
(sec)
Existence





















U

101
157
140
100


None



V

60
72
70
100
400
100
None



W

162
201
150
50
450
300
None



X

185
282
250
40


None



Y

161
233
200
30


None



Z

69
197
150
40


None



AA

119
135
100
30


None



AB

52
99
250
100


Existence



AC

52
99
250
100


Existence











(Galv-











annealed)



AD

120
123
100
150


None




AE


45
58
50
150


None











AF




















AG


84
176
200
150


None




AH


107
230
200
150


None











AI






AJ




















AK


94
200
200
150


None




AL


47
118
200
150


None







Underline shows that it does not meet the recommeded condition.
















TABLE 6









First Heat Treatment













Cold

First-stage















Hot Rolling
Rolling

Cooling

Second Heat Treatment




















Heat
Finish
Coiling
Rolling
Heat
Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Heat
Held



Temp.
Temp.
Temp.
Reduction
Temp.
Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time


No.
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(%)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)






AM

1,262
942
98
41
900
230

0.1

682
139
255
900
127



AN

1,313
963
317
61
850
259
25  
600
139
233
850
 82



















AO

1,201
949
29
85
882
339

14
212
856
112



AP

1,151
867
245
78
842
496

 62

400

881
312



AQ

1,235
944
477
32
821
179

 53
 63

750

417



AR

1,251
882
384
53
950
362

 36
 53
950
1



AS

1,245
892
463
71
888
542

 75
208
842
402



AT

1,271
971
153
77
900
507

116
187
900
145



AU

1,177
996
291
79
863
111

168
158
850
585



AV

1,308
965
322
80
874
83

173
134
864
498



AW

1,284
870
382
85
845
487

111
246
853
179



AX

1,247
949
250
64
860
477

 96
290
856
274



AY

1,144
913
134
48
880
143

150
 68
880
140















AZ

1,130
961
404
51

868
313



















AY

1,228
958
213
53

1150

375

 31
230
900
130














Second Heat Treatment












First-stage













Cooling

Tempering




















Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Holding
Holding
Heat
Held





Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time
Temp.
Time
Plating



No.
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C.)
(sec)
Existence








AM

51
689
144
195
200
150


None


















AN


 34
 46
200
150


None




AO


182
170
200
150


None




AP


 83
 32
200
150


None




AQ


142
145
200
150


None




AR


 72
154
200
150


None



















AS

   0.01
696
128
 95
200
150


None




AT

 5

595

 35
268
200
150


None


















AU


15
 74
200
150


None




AV


117

309

200
150


None




AW


157
150

500

150


None




AX


138
267
280

600



None




AY


 41
203
200
150

510

300
None




AZ


170
100
200
150


None




AY


 45
210
100
150


None







Underline shows that it does not meet the recommeded condition.

















TABLE 7









Volume Fraction of Microstructure (%)




















Test
Steel
Prodction
Thickness



Retained


TS
El


No.
No.
No.
(mm)
F
P
B
γ
M
TM
(MPa)
(%)





1
1
A
1.4





100
1,889
8.2


2
2
B
1.4





100
1,422
10.4


3
3
C
0.8





100
2,061
7


4
4
D
1.4





100
1,666
9.3


5
5
E
1.4


2


98
1,597
10


6
6
F
1.4





100
1,720
9.8


7
7
G
1.4





100
2,256
8.6


8
8
H
1.4





100
1,428
11.2


9
9
I
1.4





100
1,416
10.8


10
10
J
1.4





100
1,409
11.6


11
11
K
1.4





100
1,504
10.8


12
12
L
1.4


3
1

96
2,039
9.6


13
13
M
1.4
4
1



95
1,726
10.6


14
14
N
1.0





100
2,039
9.2


15
15
O
1.4





100
1,934
8.6


16
16
P
1.4





100
1,831
9.2


17
17
Q
1.4
3

2


95
1,718
10.2


18
18
R
1.4


4
1

95
1,446
9.6


19
19
S
1.4





100
1,641
10.2


20
20
T
1.4





100
1,538
10.3


















Standard
Variations







Deviation
Micro

Crash Resistance


















Test
of Macro
Hardness
λ
α



Evalua-




No.
hardness
(Number)
(%)
(deg)
{circle around (1)}
TS × El
TS × λ
tion
Remarks







1
23
9
21
52
2
15,492
39,674

Invention












Steel



2
27
9
40
63
13
14,785
56,867

Invention












Steel



3
20
6
24
63
8
14,428
49,467

Invention












Steel



4
24
6
23
59
9
15,493
38,315

Invention












Steel



5
28
8
30
63
13
15,972
47,917

Invention












Steel



6
27
8
22
60
10
16,857
37,843

Invention












Steel



7
21
5
19
51
1
19,404
42,870

Invention












Steel



8
23
8
38
66
16
15,996
54,272

Invention












Steel



9
23
8
36
63
13
15,298
50,992

Invention












Steel



10
20
6
39
68
18
16,350
54,968

Invention












Steel



11
21
7
41
63
13
16,241
61,655

Invention












Steel



12
29
8
18
51
1
19,574
36,701

Invention












Steel



13
30
7
23
58
8
18,292
39,691

Invention












Steel



14
28
9
17
58
5
18,758
34,662

Invention












Steel



15
25
6
19
53
3
16,634
36,750

Invention












Steel



16
26
7
21
54
4
16,847
38,456

Invention












Steel



17
30
9
23
59
9
17,525
39,518

Invention












Steel



18
29
8
36
61
11
13,884
52,064

Invention












Steel



19
29
8
24
56
6
16,743
39,395

Invention












Steel



20
29
8
31
59
9
15,840
47,674

Invention












Steel







The each symbol of the Microstructure means as follows:



F: ferrite,



P: pearlite,



B: bainite,



TM: tempered martensite,



M: as-quenched martensite



{circle around (1)} means the calculated value of “α − (2.37t2 − 14t + 65)”, and the value is good if it is 0 or more.



“—” means the microstructure was not observed.

















TABLE 8









Volume Fraction of Microstructure (%)




















Test
Steel
Prodction
Thickness



Retained


TS
El


No.
No.
No.
(mm)
F
P
B
γ
M
TM
(MPa)
(%)





21
21
U
1.4





100
1,511
10.6


22
22
V
1.4





100
1,417
10.8


23
23
W
1.4





100
1,421
10.6


24
24
X
1.4





100
1,415
10.2


25
25
Y
1.4





100
1,402
10.6


26
26
Z
1.4





100
1,953
8.6


27
27
AA
1.4





100
1,548
10.1


28
28
AB
1.6





100
1,419
11.3


29
29
AC
1.4





100
1,407
11.5


30
30
AD
1.4





100
1,543
10.6


31
31

AE

1.4





100
2,231
8.8










32
32

AF

It cannot be tested due to shape defect of hot rolled plate.


















33
33

AG

1.4





100

1,348

9.1


34
1

AH

1.4





100
1,680
9.0










35
2

AI

It cannot be tested due to shape defect of cold rolled plate.


36
3

AJ

It cannot be tested due to the steel plate breaks during cold rolling


















37
5

AK

1.4
15




85

1,250

13


38
9

AL

1.4
14




86

1,381

14.6


39
11

AM

1.4
25
5
5


65

1,320

16


40
13
AN
1.4
 3

2


 95
1,410
14
















Standard
Variations






Deviation
in Micro

Crash Resistance
















Test
of Macro
Hardness
λ
α



Evalua-



No.
hardness
(Number)
(%)
(deg)
{circle around (1)}
TS × El
TS × λ
tion
Remarks





21
29
8
33
61
11
16,018
49,866

Invention











Steel


22
24
7
39
65
15
15,305
55,267

Invention











Steel


23
24
7
37
62
12
15,068
52,594

Invention











Steel


24
23
6
35
61
11
14,431
49,519

Invention











Steel


25
21
6
41
66
16
14,866
57,502

Invention











Steel


26
25
6
17
51
 1
16,797
33,203

Invention











Steel


27
26
7
28
57
 7
15,635
43,343

Invention











Steel


28
22
6
36
55
 6
16,035
51,085

Invention











Steel


29
25
8
38
59
 9
16,182
53,469

Invention











Steel


30
20
6
42
64
14
16,358
64,815

Invention











Steel


31

38


15

17
40

−10  

19,637
37,935
x
Conparative











Steel









32
It cannot be tested due to shape defect of hot rolled plate.
Conparative




Steel
















33

46


18

36
58
 8

12,271

48,545
x
Conparative











Steel


34
24

19

19
56
 6
15,120

31,920

x
Conparative











Steel









35
It cannot be tested due to shape defect of cold rolled plate.
Conparative




Steel


36
It cannot be tested due to the steel plate breaks during cold rolling
Conparative




Steel
















37

45


18

26
73
23
16,250

32,500

x
Conparative











Steel


38

43


17

18
69
19
20,159

24,854

x
Conparative











Steel


39

45


18

16
69
19
21,120

21,120

x
Conparative











Steel


40
28
8
25
72
22
19,740
35,250

Invention











Steel





Underline shows it does not meet the claimed range, the recommeded condition, or the target performance.


The each symbol of the Microstructure means as follows:


F: ferrite,


P: pearlite,


B: bainite,


TM: tempered martensite,


M: as-quenched martensite


{circle around (1)} means the calculated value of “α − (2.37t2 − 14t + 65)”, and the value is good if it is 0 or more.


“—” means the microstructure was not observed.

















TABLE 9









Volume Fraction of Microstructure (%)




















Test
Steel
Prodction
Thickness



Retained


TS
El


No.
No.
No.
(mm)
F
P
B
γ
M
TM
(MPa)
(%)





41
15

AO

1.4


30


70

1,380

10.1


42
16

AP

1.4





100
1,659
9


43
18

AO

1.4
80




20
  760
30


44
22

AR

1.4
60




40
  960
19


45
24

AS

1.4
20

12


68
  850
15


46
27

AT

1.4
10
10
40


40

1,290

10.2


47
29

AU

1.4
 5

20
 5
10
60

1,290

15


48
30

AV

1.4





100
  960
9.4


49
31

AW

1.4





100

1,380

8.4


50
32

AX

1.4





100

1,350

8.8


51
32

AY

1.4





100
1,949
9.5


52
32

AZ

1.4





100
1,820
9.2


53

34

A
1.4





100

1,220

8.9


54

35

B
1.4





100
2,200
7.7


55

36

C
1.4





100
2,321
9.0


56

37

D
1.4
15
10
50
10
 5
10
  580
21


57

38

E
1.4





100
1,560
9.2


58

39

F
1.4





100
2,244
8.4


59

40

G
1.4





100
1,965
7.9


60

41

H
1.4





100
1,714
9.3
















Standard
Variations






Deviation
in Micro

Crash Resistance
















Test
of Macro
Hardness
λ
α



Evalua-



No.
hardness
(Number)
(%)
(deg)
{circle around (1)}
TS × El
TS × λ
tion
Remarks





41

32


16

23
48

−2

13,938

31,740

x
Conparative











Steel


42

45


16

16
48

−2

14,928

26,539

x
Conparative











Steel


43

50


18

8
82
32
22,800
6,080
x
Conparative











Steel


44

35


16

8
75
25
18,240
7,680
x
Conparative











Steel


45

43


13

34
85
35

12,750


28,900

x
Conparative











Steel


46

44


15

6
71
21
13,158
7,740
x
Conparative











Steel


47

35


15

12
68
18
19,350

15,480

x
Conparative











Steel


48
22
 8
42
81
31
9,024
40,320
x
Conparative











Steel


49
25
 7
33
64
14

11,592

45,540
x
Conparative











Steel


50
24
 8
50
66
16

11,880

67,500
x
Conparative











Steel


51
25

12

16
51
 1
18,516

31,184

x
Conparative











Steel


52
29

15

20
45

−5

16,744
36,400
x
Conparative











Steel


53
22
 5
46
84
34

10,858

56,120
x
Conparative











Steel


54

32


12

12
38

−12

16,940

26,400

x
Conparative











Steel


55

31


11

11
43

−7

20,885

25,527

x
Conparative











Steel


56

45


12

56
92
42

12,180


32,480

x
Conparative











Steel


57

34


11

11
43

−7

14,352

17,160

x
Conparative











Steel


58

31

10
11
44

−6

18,848

24,682

x
Conparative











Steel


59

33

10
12
51
 1
15,520

23,575

x
Conparative











Steel


60

34


11

11
42

−8

15,937

18,850

x
Conparative











Steel





Underline shows it does not meet the claimed range, the recommeded condition, or the target performance.


The each symbol of the Microstructure means as follows:


F: ferrite,


P: pearlite,


B: bainite,


TM: tempered martensite,


M: as-quenched martensite


{circle around (1)} means the calculated value of “α − (2.37t2 − 14t + 65)”, and the value is good if it is 0 or more.


“—” means the microstructure was not observed.

















TABLE 10









Volume Fraction of Microstructure (%)




















Test
Steel
Prodction
Thickness



Retained


TS
El


No.
No.
No.
(mm)
F
P
B
γ
M
TM
(MPa)
(%)





61

42

J
1.4





100
1,768
9.4


62

43

K
1.4





100
1,458
8.8


63

44

L
1.4


4


 96
1,590
8.6


64

45

M
1.4





100
1,599
8.6


65

46

N
1.4





100
1,699
8.4


66

47

O
1.4





100
1,649
9.5


67

48

P
1.4





100
1,850
9.7


68

49

Q
1.4
3

5


92
1,629
10.2


69

50

R
1.4
2

4

1
93
1,417
9.8


70

51

S
1.4





100
2,096
8.9


71

52

T
1.4





100
2,095
9.6


72

53

U
1.4





100
1,707
7.4


73

54

V
1.4





100
1,655
7.8


74

55

W
1.4





100
1,498
6.9


75

56

X
1.4





100
1,430
6.4


76

57

X
1.4





100
1,612
9.1


77

58

X
1.4





100
1,933
8.7


78

59

X
1.4





100
1,572
9.1


79

60

X
1.4





100
1,464
8.8


80

61

X
1.4





100
1,859
7.9


81

62

X
1.4





100
2,100
8.3


82

63

X
1.4





100
2,100
9.3


83
64
F
1.4





100
1,720
9.8


84
 1
AY
1.4




2
 98
1,889
8.2
















Standard
Variations






Deviation
in Micro

Crash Resistance
















Test
of Macro
Hardness
λ
α



Evalua-



No.
hardness
(Number)
(%)
(deg)
{circle around (1)}
TS × El
TS × λ
tion
Remarks





61

34


13

10
44

−16

16,617

17,677

x
Conparative











Steel


62

33


11

11
46

−14


12,828


16,035

x
Conparative











Steel


63

36


11

10
44

−16

13,672

15,897

x
Conparative











Steel


64

37


13

9
48

−12

13,751

14,391

x
Conparative











Steel


65

34


14

9
48

−12

14,275

15,295

x
Conparative











Steel


66

34


11

10
51
−9
15,663

16,488

x
Conparative











Steel


67

34


11

10
45

−15

17,947

18,502

x
Conparative











Steel


68

37


14

9
42

−18

16,615

14,661

x
Conparative











Steel


69

33


12

12
46

−14

13,883

17,000

x
Conparative











Steel


70

31


13

13
47

−13

18,652

27,244

x
Conparative











Steel


71

39


15

9
44

−16

20,109

18,852

x
Conparative











Steel


72

32


13

15
42

−18


12,634


25,609

x
Conparative











Steel


73

31


11

16
41

−19


12,910


26,481

x
Conparative











Steel


74

31


11

17
44

−16


10,337


25,468

x
Conparative











Steel


75

32


12

19
46

−14

9,152

27,170

x
Conparative











Steel


76

36


11

13
45

−15

14,669

20,956

x
Conparative











Steel


77

35


12

12
44

−16

16,817

23,196

x
Conparative











Steel


78

37


13

10
44

−16

14,307

15,722

x
Conparative











Steel


79

40


13

4
48

−12


12,886

5,857
x
Conparative











Steel


80

40


14

5
49

−11

14,688
9,296
x
Conparative











Steel


81

31


14

11
43

−17

17,430

23,100

x
Conparative











Steel


82

32


13

12
42

−18

19,530

25,200

x
Conparative











Steel


83
25
 6
28
60
  10
16,857
48,164

Invention











Steel


84

34

 9
17
52
   2
15,492

32,117

x
Conparative











Steel





Underline shows it does not meet the claimed range, the recommeded condition, or the target performance.


The each symbol of the Microstructure means as follows:


F: ferrite,


P: pearlite,


B: bainite,


TM: tempered martensite,


M: as-quenched martensite


{circle around (1)} means the calculated value of “α − (2.37t2 − 14t + 65)”, and the value is good if it is 0 or more.


“—” means the microstructure was not observed.















TABLE 11









Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No.
C
Si
Mn
P
S
N
O
Al
B
Ti
Nb
V
Mo
Cr
Co
Ni





101
0.28
0.37
2.50
0.0150
0.0155
0.0118
0.0015
0.17
0.0014
0.01
0.003







102
0.20
1.79
3.10
0.0014
0.0100
0.0035
0.0001

0.0018




0.20




103
0.19
1.14
2.20
0.0028
0.0120
0.0030
0.0030
0.22
0.0058



0.15





104
0.25
1.47
3.50
0.0043
0.0018
0.0119
0.0153
0.10
0.0020
0.09

0.08






105
0.22
0.82
2.80
0.0046
0.0132
0.0150
0.0034
0.05
0.0001



0.05





106
0.25
0.64
2.60
0.0017
0.0064
0.0187
0.0015
0.01
0.0020
0.02
0.021

0.10





107
0.27
1.49
2.10
0.0126
0.0168
0.0151
0.0045
0.89
0.0010






0.32


108
0.22
1.15
1.80
0.0038
0.0016
0.0138
0.0015
0.11
0.0042









109
0.24
0.22
4.50
0.0047
0.0009
0.0182
0.0031
0.18
0.0006









110
0.18
0.71
1.00
0.0026
0.0016
0.0107
0.0037
0.21
0.0008

0.020







111
0.27
1.90
3.10
0.0027
0.0047
0.0180
0.0005
0.06
0.0014
0.10


0.15





112
0.35
1.31
4.00
0.0113
0.0015
0.0156
0.0040
0.20
0.0022









113
0.30
0.88
2.20
0.0005
0.0033
0.0071
0.0156
0.15
0.0082









114
0.26
1.23
0.60
0.0186
0.0009
0.0049
0.0004
0.23
0.0006




1.58




115
0.33
0.88
3.90
0.0038
0.0030
0.0108
0.0149
0.06
0.0025









116
0.28
0.17
1.60
0.0020
0.0029
0.0016
0.0001

0.0018






0.72


117
0.19
1.58
1.30
0.0010
0.0092
0.0040
0.0033
0.02
0.0018









118
0.22
0.20
2.20
0.0007
0.0010
0.0035
0.0103
0.15
0.0079









119
0.20
1.55
2.00
0.0027
0.0037
0.0068
0.0025
0.16
0.0016





0.20



120
0.27
0.68
1.10
0.0020
0.0037
0.0067
0.0051
0.16
0.0007



0.13
0.50















Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No.
Cu
W
Ta
Sn
Sb
As
Mg
Ca
Y
Zr
La
Ce
Ac3







101












810



102












890



103












868



104




0.015







873



105












843



106



0.012








831



107
0.091











857



108












857



109


0.010









811



110





0.021






847



111












885



112






0.004




0.010
839



113









0.016
0.002

829



114








0.007



852



115







0.005




824



116












790



117

0.008










883



118
0.200











815



119












880



120












830



















TABLE 12









Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No.
C
Si
Mn
P
S
N
O
Al
B
Ti
Nb
V
Mo
Cr
Co
Ni





121
0.19
0.27
1.30
0.0030
0.0068
0.0006
0.0012

0.0016
0.01








122
0.18
1.91
1.50
0.0027
0.0016
0.0023
0.0014
0.10
0.0008

0.013







123
0.21
0.38
0.70
0.0036
0.0164
0.0007
0.0156
0.67
0.0012




0.23




124
0.18
0.44
0.60
0.0016
0.0115
0.0015
0.0015
0.03
0.0016
0.05





0.32


125
0.19
0.20
1.70
0.0014
0.0171
0.0055
0.0022
0.08
0.0010

0.038
0.22






126
0.34
0.10
1.30
0.0006
0.0015
0.0113
0.0137
0.23
0.0019





0.12



127
0.20
1.44
2.80
0.0027
0.0180
0.0034
0.0035
0.06
0.0019

0.018







128
0.21
0.34
4.10
0.0079
0.0029
0.0011
0.0030
0.17
0.0008
0.01


0.15





129
0.19
0.33
4.10
0.0013
0.0044
0.0045
0.0028
0.15
0.0007

0.043







130
0.20
0.82
1.60
0.0040
0.0012
0.0035
0.0015
0.74
0.0068

0.015
0.05






131
0.38
0.47
1.40
0.0052
0.0004
0.0033
0.0181

0.0030
0.01








132
0.28
0.65
3.70
0.0034
0.0028
0.0141
0.0040
0.06
0.0091









133
0.35
0.53
3.20
0.0024
0.0103
0.0033
0.0035
0.08
0.0016


0.41






134
0.28
1.87
4.70
0.0005
0.0031
0.0027
0.0004
0.86
0.0036

0.016







135
0.18
0.20
3.60
0.0031
0.0130
0.0027
0.0121
0.85
0.0011


0.14






136
0.23
0.80
2.10
0.0032
0.0036
0.0039
0.0087
0.06










137
0.22
1.00
2.30
0.0033
0.0035
0.0084
0.0071
0.05










138
0.24
1.20
2.20
0.0029
0.0033
0.0057
0.0010
0.03










139
0.20
0.90
2.80
0.0027
0.0022
0.0027
0.0023
0.08










140
0.21
1.20
3.10
0.0033
0.0025
0.0021
0.0044
0.03





















Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No.
Cu
W
Ta
Sn
Sb
As
Mg
Ca
Y
Zr
La
Ce
Ac3







121












825



122












899



123












824



124












829



125












844



126












787



127












875



128












828



129

0.020










827



130




0.020







852



131












797



132












823



133












847



134












877



135












839



136












839



137












850



138












855



139












850



140












862



















TABLE 13









Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No.
C
Si
Mn
P
S
N
O
Al
B
Ti
Nb
V
Mo
Cr
Co
Ni





141
0.19
1.50
1.90
0.0039
0.0035
0.0088
0.0068
0.04










142
0.24
0.80
2.00
0.0032
0.0038
0.0056
0.0045
0.02










143
0.22
0.50
2.20
0.0039
0.0037
0.0078
0.0090
0.03










144
0.23
0.60
2.50
0.0033
0.0021
0.0072
0.0042
0.07










145
0.19
0.30
2.80
0.0028
0.0039
0.0059
0.0056
0.06










146
0.24
0.40
1.70
0.0034
0.0039
0.0071
0.0061
0.06










147
0.22
0.20
1.60
0.0019
0.0038
0.0046
0.0061
0.03










148
0.23
0.90
1.90
0.0027
0.0030
0.0027
0.0047
0.04










149
0.23
1.40
1.50
0.0020
0.0027
0.0029
0.0012
0.08










150
0.24
1.60
2.20
0.0023
0.0020
0.0083
0.0087
0.01










151
0.25
0.80
2.10
0.0026
0.0023
0.0033
0.0062











152
0.26
0.90
1.90
0.0025
0.0024
0.0012
0.0057
0.08











153


0.15

0.50
2.40
0.0011
0.0024
0.0014
0.0011
0.14
0.0079










154


0.50

0.50
2.80
0.0021
0.0007
0.0072
0.0028
0.10
0.0002










155

0.22

3.50

2.60
0.0155
0.0003
0.0173
0.0013
0.12
0.0011










156

0.22
0.50

0.25

0.0024
0.0162
0.0012
0.0047

0.0014










157

0.22
0.50

6.50

0.0013
0.0176
0.0049
0.0025
0.67
0.0079




















Chemical composition (mass % the balance: Fe and impurities)























No.
Cu
W
Ta
Sn
Sb
As
Mg
Ca
Y
Zr
La
Ce
Ac3







141












880



142












837



143












828



144












830



145












826



146












819



147












815



148












844



149












866



150












873



151












835



152












838




153













845




154













780




155













962




156













828




157













828







Underline shows that it does not meet the claimed range.
















TABLE 14









First Heat Treatment
Second Heat Treatment















Cold
Oxygen

First-stage

Oxygen

















Hot Rolling
Rolling
Partial

Cooling

Partial






















Heat
Finish
Coiling
Rolling
Pressure
Heat
Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Pressure
Heat



Temp.
Temp.
Temp.
Reduction
(×10−21
Temp.
Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
(×10−21
Temp.


No.
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(%)
atm)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
atm)
(° C.)





a
1230
860
340
61
631
870
250


90
160
399
860


b
1140
960
370
37
41,072
970
430


130
98
5,555
920


c
1240
890
130
33
156
880
60


130
105
2,379
900


d
1230
880
460
66
8,399
930
260


90
82
1,540
890


e
1280
850
410
82
5,555
920
50


120
116
8,399
930


f
1140
890
360
34
21
850
310


40
253
8,399
930


g
1300
870
230
66
0.01
870
170


130
126
27,888
960


h
1210
850
310
31
250
870
50


60
97
989
880


i
1300
960
520
90
18,816
950
400


100
207
8,399
930


j
1160
880
410
60
8,399
930
170


140
230
1,540
890


k
1270
850
340
63
5,555
920
30


100
83
8,399
930


l
1260
940
490
62
96
850
290


140
153
399
860


m
1170
1000
230
87
5,555
920
440


30
54
250
850


n
1220
980
250
56
3,648
910
20


140
101
1,540
890


o
1230
860
280
69
5,555
920
410


40
158
989
880


p
1190
880
380
42
5,555
920
380


110
183
399
860


q
1190
910
170
82
59
900
70
5
680
120
244
5,555
920


r
1190
910
170
82
59
830
70
1
720
30
253
989
880


s
1130
960
500
75
21
890
170


130
258
1,540
890


t
1140
930
360
57
3,648
910
90


130
114
1,540
890













Second Heat Treatment











First-stage













Cooling

Tempering





















Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Holding
Holding
Heat
Held





Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time
Temp.
Time
Plating



No.
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C.)
(sec)
Existence







a
300


40
160
310
300


None



b
30
8.5
660
20
180
300
20


Existence













(Galv-













annealed)



c
310


90
160
30
270
300
300
None



d
30


80
150
110
70


None



e
220


40
120
310
410


None



f
130


60
130
170
70
250
150
None



g
100


130
210
370
20


None



h
160


70
100
240
390


None



i
40


110
50
340
460


None



j
290


110
50
380
350


None



k
10


50
100
50
380


None



l
160


60
40
160
470


None



m
20


110
70
440
50


Existence



n
20


130
210
270
170


Existence













(Galv-













annealed)



o
350


80
80
190
290


None



p
100
5.2
680
50
50
130
480


None



q
90


60
90
280
140


None



r
280


110
80
250
100


None



s
100


90
110
110
100


None



t
280


60
160
190
30


Existence













(Galv-













annealed)




















TABLE 15









First Heat Treatment
Second Heat Treatment















Cold
Oxygen

First-stage

Oxygen

















Hot Rolling
Rolling
Partial

Cooling

Partial






















Heat
Finish
Coiling
Rolling
Pressure
Heat
Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Pressure
Heat



Temp.
Temp.
Temp.
Reduction
(×10−21
Temp.
Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
(×10−21
Temp.


No.
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(%)
atm)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
atm)
(° C.)





u
1260
990
260
79
989
880
400


130
273
41,072 
970


v
1110
860
400
83
21
920
380


120
134
3,648
910


w
1150
990
290
53
21
840
140


80
271
1,540
890


x
1300
930
410
38
18,816   
950
420


100
174
     0.01
860


y
1300
870
500
83
989 
880
150


60
209
3,648
910


z
1190
930
370
45
21
800
100


20
127
  250
850


aa
1300
910
530
81
12,613   
940
470


60
216
2,949
905


ab
1210
870
120
60
59
840
260


100
233
  631
870


ac
1160
960
220
81
21
840
260


120
121
  989
880


ad
1140
940
490
80
41,072   
970
 30


120
143
8,399
930



ae


1000

980
140
70
631 
870
320


50
109
41,072 
970



af

1220

800

420
85
3,648  
910
 90


60
68
60,117 
980



ag

1220
920

600

55
250 
860
10


150
255
  989
880



ah

1180
970
470

15

41,072   
970
10


90
168
18,816 
950



ai

1120
900
510

98

21
850
450


80
238
41,072 
970



aj

1130
990
160
72
   0.01
860
290


40
57
     0.01
870



ak

1270
910
530
31
279 

750

120


40
222
2,379
900



al

1200
900
210
80
250 
870
0


30
118
  989
880



am

1190
940
330
57
3,648  
910
480

0.01

650
50
243
2,379
900



an

1150
970
110
52
3,648  
910
290
1  

600

90
180
60,117 
980














Second Heat Treatment












First-stage













Cooling

Tempering





















Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Holding
Holding
Heat
Held





Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time
Temp.
Time
Plating



No.
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C.)
(sec)
Existence







u
130


110
190
340
330


None



v
350


50
250
260
230


None



w
270


120
180
340
90


None



x
260


100
130
320
150


None



y
140


100
140
400
170


None



z
160


100
190
100
20


None



aa
20


80
120
430
200


None



ab
120


110
30
440
440


None



ac
210


80
70
320
450


None



ad
330


70
170
270
60


None




ae

60


130
160
40
200


None




af

110


30
100
340
260


None




ag

290


80
110
280
380


None




ah

140


110
90
120
90


Existence




ai

190


120
100
330
50


None




aj

30


70
170
200
70


None




ak

150


70
200
170
480


None




al

20


80
170
80
220


None




am

180


50
60
380
100


None




an

250


100
90
400
150


None







Underline shows that it does not meet the recommeded condition.
















TABLE 16









First Heat Treatment
Second Heat Treatment















Cold
Oxygen

First-stage

Oxygen

















Hot Rolling
Rolling
Partial

Cooling

Partial






















Heat
Finish
Coiling
Rolling
Pressure
Heat
Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Pressure
Heat



Temp.
Temp.
Temp.
Reduction
(×10−21
Temp.
Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
(×10−21
Temp.


No.
(° C.)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(%)
atm)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
atm)
(° C.)






ao

1290
1000
530
68
27,888
960
200



15

181
12,613
940



ap

1160
940
150
49
1,540
890
290


20

550

3,648
910


aq
1250
890
520
80
1.2
880
350


130 
260
0.001
850



ar

1270
930
270
34
3,648
910
410


90
260
1.4

750




as

1280
1000
510
88
156
840
110


30
250
399
860



at

1300
1000
430
56
60,117
980
110


140 
205
250
850



au

1200
960
260
66
156
840
90


140 
261
250
850



av

1220
920
430
32
989
880
70


120 
206
3,648
910



aw

1260
970
170
49
399
880
40


130 
165
3,648
910



ax

1260
920
530
81
36
890
310


140 
268
18,816
950


ay
1210
990
280
81
21
850
200


140 
 50
631
870


az
1170
940
530
35
250
850
220


20
180
2,379
900
















ba

1170
940
530
35
250

2,379
900




















bb
1120
980
530
43
21
860
150


35
200
399
860


bc
1200
920
530
55
21
860
150


35
150
60,117
980


bd
1300
930
530
42
21
980
150


35
210
60,117
980


be
1250
990
530
63
21
860
150


35
140
399
860


bf
1230
950
530
61
21
860
150


35
190
399
860













Second Heat Treatment











First-stage













Cooling

Tempering





















Held
Colling
Stop
Colling
Stop
Holding
Holding
Heat
Held





Time
Rate
Temp.
Rate
Temp.
Temp.
Time
Temp.
Time
Plating



No.
(sec)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C./s)
(° C.)
(° C.)
(sec)
(° C.)
(sec)
Existence








ao

140 


40
190
170
390


None




ap

190 


40
110
320
390


None



aq
210 


130 
210
180
60


None




ar

270 


90
170
340
80


None




as

0


80
120
100
90


None




at

10

0.01

680
100 
250
 80
410


None




au

280 
1.2 

550

70
100
210
90


None




av

140 



13

 30
150
430


None




aw

10


60

380

410
240


None




ax

40


110 
180

500

440


None



ay
270 


40
170
400
500


None



az
50


90
170
 30
220
500
100
None




ba

50


90
170
 30
220


None



bb
50


90
 40
 30
220


None



bc
50


90
170
 30
220


None



bd
50


90
170
 30
220


None



be
50


90
170
 30
220


None



bf
50


90
170
 30
220


None







Underline shows that it does not meet the recommeded condition.



























TABLE 17





















Substrate layer
















Macro









Hardness













Soft Layer
Volume Fraction of Microstructure (%)

Average



















Test
Steel
Prodction
Thickness
Thickness

Retained

TS
El
Value
Standard






















No.
No.
No.
t (mm)
t0 (mm)
t0/t
F
P
B
γ
M
TM
(MPa)
(%)
Hv0ave
Deviation





101
101
a
1.4
60
8.6


4
1

95
1432
9.8
450
26


102
102
b
1.4
150
10.7
4

1


95
1169
11.3
385
25


103
103
c
1.4
79
5.6


2


98
1517
9.6
477
22


104
104
d
1.4
137
9.8


4


96
1575
9.2
499
23


105
105
e
1.4
121
8.6





100
1286
10.2
405
21


106
106
f
1.4
94
6.7





100
1534
8.9
487
25


107
107
g
1.4
147
10.5


2


98
1256
10.4
401
23


108
108
h
1.4
41
3.0


4


96
1439
9.1
445
26


109
109
i
1.4
182
13.0


3
2

95
1198
10.9
392
28


110
110
j
1.4
151
10.8


1


99
1102
12.6
338
27


111
111
k
1.0
100
10.0


3
2

95
1671
9.4
527
26


112
112
l
1.4
34
2.4


4


96
1881
8.2
590
24


113
113
m
1.4
132
9.4


4
1

95
1185
12.3
376
26


114
114
n
1.4
36
2.6


3

1
96
1456
9.5
457
28


115
115
o
1.4
170
12.2


3


97
1709
8.2
548
23


116
116
p
1.4
134
9.6
3
1



96
1639
9.6
517
23


117
117
q
1.4
64
4.6





100
1294
10.3
408
21


118
118
r
1.4
48
3.4





100
1402
9.5
440
20


119
119
s
1.2
37
3.1





100
1515
8.6
475
21


120
120
t
1.4
100
7.2


1


99
1561
8.8
494
23














Substrate layer
Soft Layer












Variations
Hardness














in Micro
Average

Crash Resistance





















Test
Hardness
Value
Standard
Hv1ave/
λ
α



Evalua-




No.
(Number)
Hv1ave
Deviation
Hv0ave
(%)
(deg)
{circle around (1)}
TS × El
TS × λ
tion
Remarks







101
8
356
28
0.79
36
96
31
14,038
51,569

Invention














Steel



102
7
274
28
0.71
45
98
33
13,211
52,612

Invention














Steel



103
8
392
25
0.82
37
90
25
14,561
56,120

Invention














Steel



104
9
391
27
0.78
34
85
20
14,487
53,540

Invention














Steel



105
8
259
24
0.64
44
96
31
13,117
56,584

Invention














Steel



106
8
327
24
0.67
31
89
24
13,653
47,556

Invention














Steel



107
7
199
26
0.50
39
114
49
13,062
48,984

Invention














Steel



108
6
359
29
0.81
39
96
31
13,095
56,121

Invention














Steel



109
5
239
28
0.61
46
120
55
13,058
55,108

Invention














Steel



110
7
257
30
0.76
43
131
66
13,885
47,386

Invention














Steel



111
8
358
29
0.68
28
78
10
15,691
46,788

Invention














Steel



112
9
428
26
0.73
25
70
5
15,426
47,030

Invention














Steel



113
9
282
29
0.75
37
113
48
14,570
43,829

Invention














Steel



114
8
327
28
0.72
23
95
30
13,832
33,488

Invention














Steel



115
8
381
26
0.70
25
76
11
13,928
42,723

Invention














Steel



116
6
438
26
0.85
28
81
16
15,704
45,900

Invention














Steel



117
9
285
24
0.70
42
110
45
13,332
54,365

Invention














Steel



118
8
354
23
0.80
39
100
35
13,323
54,694

Invention














Steel



119
7
391
22
0.82
37
90
23
13,030
56,061

Invention














Steel



120
7
365
26
0.74
29
86
21
13,740
45,279

Invention














Steel







Underline shows it does not meet the claimed range, the recommeded condition, or the target performance.



The each symbol of the Microstructure means as follows:



F: ferrite,



P: pearlite,



B: bainite,



TM: tempered martensite,



M: as-quenched martensite



{circle around (1)} means the calculated value of “α − (2.37t2 − 14t + 65)”, and the value is good if it is 0 or more.



“—” means the microstructure was not observed.



























TABLE 18





















Substrate layer
















Macro









Hardness













Soft Layer
Volume Fraction of Microstructure (%)

Average



















Test
Steel
Prodction
Thickness
Thickness

Retained

TS
El
Value
Standard






















No.
No.
No.
t (mm)
t0 (mm)
t0/t
F
P
B
γ
M
TM
(MPa)
(%)
Hv0ave
Deviation





121
121
u
1.4
122
8.7


2


98
1136
11.6
364
23


122
122
v
1.4
101
7.2


2
2
1
95
1304
10.8
413
26


123
123
w
1.4
57
4.1


2
2
1
95
1239
10.5
388
27


124
124
x
1.4
122
8.7


3


97
1137
11.6
373
23


125
125
y
1.4
90
6.5





100 
1165
12.6
333
21


126
126
z
1.4
80
5.7


3

2
95
1891
8.1
592
28


127
127
aa
1.4
177
12.6 


3
2

95
1132
11.6
309
27


128
128
ab
1.4
32
2.3


4


96
1145
12.3
317
26


129
129
ac
1.4
43
3.1


3
2


95

1236
11.7
388
26


130
130
ad
1.4
102
7.3


3
1

96
1265
11.6
409
25


131
131

ae

1.4
171
12.2 


4


96
1999
8.2
650
24










132
132

af

It cannot be tested due to shape defect of hot rolled plate.






















133
133

ag

1.4
48
3.4


5


95
1720
8.3
542
25










134
134

ah

It cannot be tested due to shape defect of cold rolled plate.


135
135

ai

It cannot be tested due to exvessive cold rolling load.






















136
136

aj

1.4
70
5.0





100 
1498
9.2
465
22


137
137

ak

1.4
64
4.6


5


95
1492
9.1
470
24


138
138

al

1.4
21
1.5


3
1
1
95
1614
8.8
505
25


139
139

am

1.4
161
11.5 





100 

1090

12.6
349
22


140
140

an

1.4
220

15.7






100 
942
15.1
325
21














Substrate layer
Soft Layer












Variations
Hardness














in Micro
Average

Crash Resistance





















Test
Hardness
Value
Standard
Hv1ave/
λ
α



Evalua-




No.
(Number)
Hv1ave
Deviation
Hv0ave
(%)
(deg)
{circle around (1)}
TS × El
TS × λ
tion
Remarks







121
9
216
26
0.59
34
127
62
13,178
38,624

Invention














Steel



122
8
307
29
0.74
26
109
44
14,083
33,904

Invention














Steel



123
7
285
27
0.73
36
115
50
13,010
44,604

Invention














Steel



124
7
207
26
0.56
42
127
62
13,190
47,757

Invention














Steel



125
8
215
24
0.65
40
123
58
14,679
46,600

Invention














Steel



126
8
467
26
0.79
20
76
11
15,336
37,819

Invention














Steel



127
7
197
30
0.64
39
127
62
13,131
44,148

Invention














Steel



128
9
242
29
0.76
31
126
61
14,084
35,495

Invention














Steel



129
8
314
24
0.81
34
116
51
14,465
42,035

Invention














Steel



130
8
282
28
0.69
37
113
48
14,669
46,789

Invention














Steel



131

18

336
25
0.52
16
68
 3
16,391

31,982

x
Conparative














Steel











132
It cannot be tested due to shape defect of hot rolled plate.
Conparative





Steel




















133

16

338
28
0.62
18
75
10
14,277

30,961

x
Conparative














Steel











134
It cannot be tested due to shape defect of cold rolled plate.
Conparative





Steel



135
It cannot be tested due to exvessive cold rolling load.
Conparative





Steel




















136
8
421
28

0.91

28
62

−3

13,783
41,947
x
Conparative














Steel



137

12

359
24
0.76
20
92
27
13,575

29,835

x
Conparative














Steel



138

11

414
24
0.82
20
82
17
14,207

32,289

x
Conparative














Steel



139

13

243
22
0.70
30
132
67
13,731

32,694

x
Conparative














Steel



140

11

169
27
0.52
45
63

−2

14,222
42,384
x
Conparative














Steel







Underline shows it does not meet the claimed range, the recommeded condition, or the target performance.



The each symbol of the Microstructure means as follows:



F: ferrite,



P: pearlite,



B: bainite,



TM: tempered martensite,



M: as-quenched martensite



{circle around (1)} means the calculated value of “α − (2.37t2 − 14t + 65)”, and the value is good if it is 0 or more.



“—” means the microstructure was not observed.



























TABLE 19





















Substrate layer
















Macro









Hardness













Soft Layer
Volume Fraction of Microstructure (%)

Average



















Test
Steel
Prodction
Thickness
Thickness

Retained

TS
El
Value
Standard






















No.
No.
No.
t (mm)
t0 (mm)
t0/t
F
P
B
γ
M
TM
(MPa)
(%)
Hv0ave
Deviation





141
141

ao

1.4
303 

21.6



2


 98
1350
9.7
439
24


142
142

ap

1.4
123 
8.8





100
1293
10.6
412
23


143
143
aq
1.4
8
0.6


3
1

 96
1504
8.8
470
22


144
144

ar

1.4
101 
7.2
90
10



0
430
55.0
395

45



145
145

as

1.4
50
3.6


4


 96
1513
9.9
473
24


146
146

at

1.4
80
5.7
34




66

1057

25.7
493

40



147
147

au

1.4
90
6.4
39




61

1021

28.3
458

39



148
148

av

1.4
80
5.7
10

40 
3

47
960
17.1
480

38



149
149

aw

1.4
100 
7.1


60 
5

35
1122
14.1
352

32



150
150

ax

1.4
82
5.9





100
990
10.6
282
18


151
151
ay
1.4
150 
10.7 





100
1530
8.9
372
22


152
152
az
1.4
55
3.9





100
1610
8.4
521
23


153
152

ba

1.4
60
4.3





100
1666
8.0
522
28


154

153

bb
1.4
140 
10.0 





100
1468
8.0
958
26


155

154

bc
1.4
154 
11.0 


3
2

 95
2920
9.4
958
25


156

155

bd
1.4
60
4.3


2


 98
1591
8.1
498
23


157

156

be
1.4
60
4.3





100
1591
8.0
498
22


158

157

bf
1.4
60
4.3





100
1591
8.0
498
22














Substrate layer
Soft Layer












Variations
Hardness














in Micro
Average

Crash Resistance





















Test
Hardness
Value
Standard
Hv1ave/
λ
α



Evalua-




No.
(Number)
Hv1ave
Deviation
Hv0ave
(%)
(deg)
{circle around (1)}
TS × El
TS × λ
tion
Remarks







141
12 
320
29
0.73
23
105
40
13,090

31,039

x
Conparative














Steel



142
13 
272
25
0.66
25
110
45
13,701

32,313

x
Conparative














Steel



143
7
278
28
0.59
29
64

−1

13,186
43,604
x
Conparative














Steel



144

20

194

36

0.49
56
239
174 
23,650

24,080

x
Conparative














Steel



145

22

446
28

0.94

19
56

−9

14,978

28,745

x
Conparative














Steel



146

21

472
29

0.96

23
62

−3

27,144

24,311

x
Conparative














Steel



147

18

430
28

0.94

26
63

−2

28,874

26,546

x
Conparative














Steel



148
8
354
26
0.74
34
148
83
16,378

32,640

x
Conparative














Steel



149
9
207
29
0.59
22
128
63
15,820

24,684

x
Conparative














Steel



150

16

95
30
0.34
32
144
79

10,494


31,680

x
Conparative














Steel



151
8
274
27
0.74
46
89
24
13,617
70,380

Invention














Steel



152
9
392
29
0.75
44
83
18
13,524
70,840

Invention














Steel



153

16

392
27
0.75
19
79
14
13,331

31,661

x
Conparative














Steel



154
8
334
25
0.35
24
94
29

11,744

35,233
x
Conparative














Steel



155
9
334
24
0.35
8
35

−30

27,421

23,362

x
Conparative














Steel



156
9
458
26

0.92

18
53

−12


12,889


28,641

x
Conparative














Steel



157
8
458
27

0.92

19
54

−11


12,729


30,232

x
Conparative














Steel



158
9
458
29

0.92

18
53

−12


12,729


28,641

x
Conparative














Steel







Underline shows it does not meet the claimed range, the recommeded condition, or the target performance.



The each symbol of the Microstructure means as follows:



F: ferrite,



P: pearlite,



B: bainite,



TM: tempered martensite,



M: as-quenched martensite



{circle around (1)} means the calculated value of “α − (2.37t2 − 14t + 65)”, and the value is good if it is 0 or more.



“—” means the microstructure was not observed.






As shown in Tables 7 to 10, steel sheets according to Test Nos. 1 to 30, which satisfied the definition according to the present invention, had high strength and excellent crash resistance. In contrast, steel sheets according to Test Nos. 31 to 82, which did not satisfy any one or more of the macro hardness, the micro hardness, and the tensile strength according to the present invention, were poor in crash resistance.


As shown in Tables 17 to 20, steel sheets according to Test Nos. 101 to 130, 151, and 152, which satisfied the definition according to the present invention, had high strength and excellent crash resistance. In contrast, steel sheets according to Test Nos. 131 to 150 and 153 to 158, which did not satisfy any one or more of the steel micro-structure, the chemical composition, the macro hardness, and the micro hardness of a substrate layer and the thickness and the tensile strength, and the hardness of a soft layer according to the present invention, were poor at least in crash resistance.


INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, a steel sheet that establishes compatibility between high strength (specifically a tensile strength of 1100 MPa or more) and excellent crash resistance is obtained.


REFERENCE SIGNS LIST






    • 10 steel sheet


    • 10
      a surface of steel sheet

    • t sheet thickness

    • A region for measurement of macro hardness

    • B region for measurement of micro hardness




Claims
  • 1. A steel sheet having a tensile strength of 1100 MPa or more, wherein the steel sheet has a micro-structure containing, in volume fraction, tempered martensite: 95% or more, and one or more kinds of ferrite, pearlite, bainite, as-quenched martensite, and retained austenite: less than 5% in total,wherein in a cross section parallel to a sheet-thickness direction of the steel sheet, when a sheet thickness is denoted by t,in a 300-μm-square region centered about a t/2 point, a standard deviation of Vickers hardnesses that are measured under a load of 9.8 N at 30 points is 30 or less,wherein when a 100-μm-square region centered about a t/2 point is divided into 10×10, 100 subregions, and at a center of each of the subregions, a nano hardness is measured under a maximum load of 1 mN, out of the subregions, the number of subregions each of which makes a difference in nano hardness of 3 GPa or more from any one of eight surrounding subregions is 10 or less, andwherein the steel sheet has a chemical composition comprising, in mass %: C: 0.18% or more to 0.40% or less,Si: 0.01% or more to 2.50% or less,Mn: 0.60% or more to 5.00% or less,P: 0.0200% or less,S: 0.0200% or less,N: 0.0200% or less,O: 0.0200% or less,Al: 0% or more to 1.00% or less,Cr: 0% or more to 2.00% or less,Mo: 0% or more to 0.50% or less,Ti: 0% or more to 0.10% or less,Nb: 0% or more to 0.100% or less,B: 0% or more to 0.0100% or less,V: 0% or more to 0.50% or less,Cu: 0% or more to 0.500% or less,W: 0% or more to 0.100% or less,Ta: 0% or more to 0.100% or less,Ni: 0% or more to 1.00% or less,Co: 0% or more to 1.00% or less,Sn: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,Sb: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,As: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,Mg: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,Ca: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,Y: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,Zr: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,La: 0% or more to 0.050% or less,Ce: 0% or more to 0.050% or less, andthe balance: Fe and impurities.
  • 2. A steel sheet that includes a substrate layer including the steel sheet according to claim 1 and a soft layer formed on at least one of surfaces of the substrate layer, wherein a thickness of the soft layer is more than 10 μm to 0.15t or less per side,wherein at a 10-μm point from a surface of the soft layer, a standard deviation of Vickers hardnesses that are measured under a load of 4.9 N at 150 points is 30 or less, andwherein an average Vickers hardness Hv1 of the soft layer is 0.9 times or less an average Vickers hardness Hv0 at a t/2 point.
  • 3. The steel sheet according to claim 1 or 2 may include a galvanized layer, a galvannealed layer, or an electrogalvanized layer on its surface.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
2019-121092 Jun 2019 JP national
2019-121093 Jun 2019 JP national
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/JP2020/025352 6/26/2020 WO