Method and device for producing a continuous strip-shaped composite material

A method for producing a continuous strip-shaped composite material (11), having the following steps:

• (i) Provision of a base material of metal, which is unwound in the form of a metal strip (13) formed of steel or alloy steel by a first coil-unwinding apparatus (12), and at least one cladding material of metal, which is unwound in the form of a metal strip (15) formed of steel or alloy steel by a second coil-unwinding apparatus (14);
• (ii) Joining of the metal strip (13) unwound by the first coil-unwinding apparatus (12) and of the metal strip (15) unwound by the second coil-unwinding apparatus (14);
• and
• (iii) Rolling of the unwound metal strips (13, 15) brought towards one another such that a single continuous strip-shaped composite material (11) consisting of the base material and the cladding material is thereby formed,
• wherein the metal strips (13, 15, 35) unwound by a respective coil-unwinding apparatus (12, 14, 34) are descaled by using high-pressure water before the step (ii), and the rolling of metal strips (13, 15, 35) in step (III) is carried out as hot rolling,
• characterized in that
• the first and the second coil-unwinding apparatus (12, 14) are accommodated in a heatable environment (22) during step (i) such that a predefined temperature of at least 720° C. is set for the metal strips (13, 15) unwound by the coil-unwinding apparatuses (12, 14) before steps (ii) and (iii)
• joining of the metal strips (13, 15) in step (ii) is carried out in a hot condition, with the metal strips (13, 15) each having a temperature of at least 720° C.,
• before the step (iii), a surface temperature of all of the metal strips (13, 15, 35) on opposite to each other surfaces is increased by using induction heating, and
• during the step (ii) and before the step (iii), the metal strips (13, 15, 35) unwound by the respective coil-unviding apparatus (12, 14, 34) are transported in an inert gas atmosphere (28).

A device (10) for producing a continuous strip-shaped composite material (11), comprising at least one first coil-unwinding apparatus (12), with which a metal strip (13) formed of steel or alloy steel is provided which serves as the base material;

• at least one second coil-unwinding apparatus (14), with which a metal strip (15) formed of steel or alloy steel is provided which serves as the cladding material;
• at least one rolling mill (16) in the form of a roll-cladding apparatus (16.1), which is arranged in line with the first and the second coil-unwinding apparatus (12, 14) and is arranged downstream thereof;
• a joining apparatus (18) arranged between the coil-unwinding apparatuses (12, 14, 34) on one side and the roll-cladding apparatus (16.1) on the other side, and
• at least one cleaning apparatus (20) in form of a high-pressure water descaling apparatus is arranged between the coil-unwinding apparatuses, on one side, and the joining apparatus, on the other side, and with which the metal strips (13, 15) unwound by the coil-unwinding apparatuses (12, 14) are descaled,
• characterized in that
• the first and second coil-unwinding apparatuses (12, 14) are arranged in at least one heatable chamber (22) under inert gas atmosphere, wherein the metal strips (13, 15) unwound by the coil-unwinding apparatuses (12, 14) are joined by the joining apparatus (18) in a hot state,
• at least one temperature-influencing apparatus (30) in form of an induction-heating apparatus is arranged between the joining apparatus (18) and a roll-cladding apparatus (16.1) provided directly downstream thereof, with which opposite surfaces of the metal strips (13, 15) which are unwound by the respective coil-unwinding apparatus (12, 14), can be heated so that a strip-shaped composite material which is formed of the metal strips (13, 15) unwound by the coil-unwinding apparatuses (12, 14), can be hot-rolled in the roll-cladding apparatus (16.1), whereby a single continuous strip-shaped composite material (11) which is formed of a base material and a clad material, is produced, and
• an inert gas apparatus (28) forms part of the joining apparatus (18), whereby the metal strips (13, 15) unwound by the respective coil-unwinding apparatus (12, 14) are transported in the inert gas device (28) in the inert gas atmosphere.