Annealing process of a stainless steel band

Abstract

The annealing process of a stainless steel band includes the following steps, in any order: Heating the stainless steel band under reducing atmosphere; Cooling the stainless steel band; and Printing on the surface a roughness onto said stainless steel band. The invention also relates to an annealing device for implementing the method. The annealing device includes a heating mechanism under reducing atmosphere for the stainless steel band, a cooling mechanism for the stainless steel band, and a printing mechanism, on the surface, for a roughness onto the stainless steel band.

1 . An annealing process of a stainless steel band, after exposure to at least one first rolling step, comprising the following steps: 
 heating under reducing atmosphere said stainless steel band,    cooling said stainless steel band, and    printing on a surface thereof a roughness onto said stainless steel band.    
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein heating is performed by a gas-operating furnace, electric resistors or longitudinal or transversal magnetic flux induction.  
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein said stainless steel band is cooled by circulating a reducing gas.  
   
   
       4 . An annealing process of a stainless steel band according to  claim 1 , wherein sufficient roughness is printed by superficial rolling for easier stamping of the stainless steel band.  
   
   
       5 . An annealing process of a stainless steel band according to  claim 1  wherein a roughness equivalent to roughness of a stainless steel of quality 2B or 2D defined by the International metal qualification is printed.  
   
   
       6 . An annealing device for implementing the method according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 means for heating under reducing atmosphere said stainless steel band,    means for cooling said stainless steel band, and    means for printing on the surface a roughness onto said stainless steel band.    
   
   
       7 . An annealing device, according to  claim 6 , wherein the means for printing on the surface a roughness onto said steel band is a rolling device comprising at least a pair of cylinders with a rough surface.  
   
   
       8 . An annealing device according to  claim 6 , wherein the heating means is comprised of a vertical furnace exhibiting induction heating means.  
   
   
       9 . An annealing device according to  claim 6 , wherein the means for cooling the band is comprised of a means for circulating a cooling gas.  
   
   
       10 . An annealing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the vertical furnace is comprised of: 
 inlet sealing means,    means for controlling and measuring tension of the stainless steel band,    actuating means for regulating the tension of the stainless steel band,    transversal magnetic flux induction heating means,    cooling means, and    outlet sealing means.    
   
   
       11 . An annealing device according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 means for measuring the roughness of the stainless steel band, and    actuating means controlling printing pressure of the cylinders with a rough surface.    
   
   
       12 . A use of the annealing process according to  claim 1  in a rolling process such as an intermediate annealing process intended for softening the material and restoring the ductility of said stainless steel band.  
   
   
       13 . A use of the annealing process according to  claim 1  in a rolling process such as a final annealing process.