Microtreatment of iron-based alloy, apparatus and method therefor and articles resulting therefrom

Apparatus for micro-treating a low, medium, or high carbon iron-based alloy workpiece of a first microstructure having an austenitic conversion temperature to form at least one phase of a high strength alloy, comprising:

• a micro-heating unit for rapidly heating at least a portion of the low carbon iron-based alloy workpiece to a selected temperature, said micro-heating unit being capable of rapidly heating the workpiece to a temperature above the austenitic conversion temperature;
• a quenching unit positioned adjacent the micro-heating unit for rapidly quenching the heated iron-based alloy;
• and
• a control unit for controlling and transporting the iron-based alloy workpiece through the micro-heating unit and the quenching unit during the rapid heating and rapid quenching to form at least one phase of a high strength alloy upon being rapidly heated to said selected temperature and then being rapidly quenched.

Apparatus for micro-treating an article made of a low, medium, or high carbon iron-based alloy having an austenitic conversion temperature to form a high strength steel article, comprising:

• a movable head heating unit having a rapid heating rate for heating the carbon iron-based alloy to a selected temperature below its;
• a quenching unit positioned adjacent the heating unit for rapidly quenching the heated low carbon iron-based alloy;
• spaced first and second tensioning units positioned on opposite sides of said heating and quenching units for moving said low carbon iron-based alloy article through said heating and quenching units, and
• a computer control unit for controlling and adjusting the feed rate of the first tensioning unit, the draw rate of the second tensioning unit, the heating rate of the heating unit and the cooling rate of the quenching unit, whereby the low carbon iron-based alloy has a varying thickness.

Apparatus for micro-treating an iron-based alloy workpiece having an austenitic conversion temperature, comprising:

• a set of gas fired torches having a heating rate of 420° C. to 4,000° C. per second for heating the iron-based alloy workpiece to a first selected temperature above the austenitic conversion temperature;
• a water cooling unit connected to a chiller to maintain an ambient temperature water, said unit being positioned adjacent the gas fired torches for rapidly quenching the heated iron-based alloy;
• spaced first and second set of tensioning rollers positioned on opposite sides of the gas fired torches and the water bucket for moving said heated iron-based alloy workpiece through the gas fired torches and the water bucket,
• a heat resistant insulator located between the gas fired torches and the water bucket to insulate the heating unit from the quenching unit and to straighten the moving the iron-based alloy workpiece while heated and quenched;
• and
• a control unit for controlling the heating rate of the gas fired torch and the cooling rate of the water bucket, whereby the iron-based alloy forms into high strength steel.

A method of making a single layer automobile panel, comprising:

• providing a micro-treated integral single layer steel sheet with bainite formed in a portion thereof, and the sheet being made of varying thicknesses by heating up to a selected temperature and immediately quenching under various tension;
• and
• stamping the steel sheet to form a door panel having a front pillar and a rear pillar,
• whereby the front pillar and rear pillar of the automobile panel includes sufficient bainite formed therein to increase strength and formability of the front and rear pillars.