Operation in QTB

Process in Q.T.B.
Principle
A Thermo-mechanical Metallurgical Process of Quenched Tempered Bar
Heated bar surface is quenched (hardened) by flowing stream of water
Hardened surface is tempered by flowing heat flux from bar core

Philosophy Behind Process

Property-Effectiveness
Yield Strength
Increased by 150 MPa
Ductility
Good value
Welding Ability
Improved through reduction of alloying elements
Mechanical Property
Better uniformity and repeatability

Cost-Effectiveness
Billet Cost
2000 Tk /T lower compared with Low Alloy Steel
3000 Tk/T lower compared with Micro- alloyed Steel

Theory behind Operation

Austenite Austenite
Bainite
Martensite

BAR CORE

800 C

Ist stage

MIDDLE
RADIUS

600 C

Surface quenching by means of

water spraying in QTB.
400 C
Result: martensite and bainite at the outer
surface.
200 C

Ferrite + Pearlite
Bainite
Tempered Bainite

TEMPERING
TEMPERATURE

BAR SURFACE

2nd stage
Flowing residual heat from core temper crude
martensite And to some extent bainite

3rd stage
Slow cooling of cores results ferrite and pearlite

QUENCHING
STAGE

TEMPERING
STAGE

COOLING
FINAL

Microstructure

tempered martensite

PEARLITE-FERRITE

mixed bainitic products

MIXED BAINITE
TEMPERED
MARTENSITE

Tempered
martensite
Depth 0,8 to 2,0 mm,
Hardness 280 - 300 HV
Mix bainite
Depth 1,2 to 2,8 mm
Hardness 220 - 240 HV

ferrite-pearlite

Ferrite and pearlite

Hardness 190 - 210 HV

Distribution of hardness, strength and ductility prove its superiority

Comparison among Rolling Processes

Conventional
Rolling

1100

1000

Austenite

910

Primary / Proeutectoid
Ferrite +
Thermo Mechanical
Stable
Rolling
Austenite
Ferrite

800

700

600

Austenite

0.86

2.10

%C

Primary Ferrite
and Pearlite

QTB Parts

Consists of

finishing block
water quenching boxes

Water box
Water system.
Pneumatic system

valves benches

Hydraulic system
Electric system/Automation

laying head

Q.T.B.
What it is
Box type, Main body of QTB Process
Welded, with top cover and containing one or more treating line/s.

Types
Fixed type, fixed foundation for production of bars.
Trolley type, a dry roller table and by-pass water treatment for producing sections

Temperature Profile in QTB Process

1,100
max finishing temperature = 1100C (for 5.5 - 6 mm)

1,050

max temperature difference at laying head

between surface and core = 100C

950
900

min coiling temperature

800C (for 5.5 - 6 mm)

min re-equalizing time

1.5 x W.C. time

850
800
1
waterbox

750

2
waterbox

700
650
600

laying
head

TEMPERATURE (C)

1,000

3
waterbox

minimum temperature during water cooling = 600C

0

10

STEEL GRADE
(AISI)
Low Carbon
1008
1012
Medium Carbon 1038
1038

20

30

40

LAYING
TEMPERATURE
(C)
880 - 920
880 - 900
840 - 850
860 - 880

50

60

FINAL
COOLING
MODE
slow
slow
slow
fast

Water Box Treatment Line

Material flow

Cooling Chambers

Composed of:
Cooler
Stripper
Dryer

Strippers

Dryer

Cooler
What it does
Spraying of cold water in same direction of bar at rate higher than critical cooling rate for MS bar

Water supply
line

Consists of
Main body (green) with a bottom inlet hole and top plane

Final guiding pipe (purple and grey) with second locking point.
Internal element (grey) ensured in position by locking nut (orange).

Stripper
What it Does
Opposite directional water flow relative to bar breaks down the water wall of bar.

Gap
Adjusting
Plane

Material flow

Water supply
line

Composed of

Water or
Compressed
Air supply

Contact
Plane

Main body (green & purple) with a bottom inlet hole and Top plane for locking purposes.

Internal element (grey), screwed in to the main body, locked in position by

the locking nut (black)
Internal element is adjustable according to the different products and water requirement.

Dryer
What it does
Compressed air is oppositely directed to bar movement
Drying water and steam from the bar.

Gap Adjusting
Plane

Material flow

Water supply
line

Air supply
line

Water or
Compressed
Air supply

Composed of
Main body (green & purple) with a bottom inlet hole and Top plane for locking purposes.

Internal element (grey) locked in position by the locking nut (black).

Contact
Plane

By Pass Pipe

What it does
Use as system back up for QTB process

QTB Water System

How it works
Water

W.T.P.

Booster pumps

Compressed Water

Delivery line
Compressed
Water

Distribution bench

Pneumatic System
How it works
Dryer

Air
Air feeder

Air
Feeding lines
Air
Actuators of FCV,
On/off valves.

Electrical System
How it works
PLC

Flow rate -close loop control

Temperature
close loop control
Interlocking
Sequence control
Readings

VALVE BENCH
PLC
FT

PT

IP

IP

IP

electropneumatic

SIGNALS FROM
PYROMETERS

CONTROL PANEL

PUMPS UNIT

Display of main variables

Alarm display
Line set-up
-

Conclusion
Natural Cooling

QTB Process

Steel Grade

Typical
Steel

YS
(N/mm2)

UTS
(N/mm2)

EL
(%)

YS
(N/mm2)

UTS
(N/mm2)

EL
(%)

Low Carbon

QTB 400

------

-------

-----

> 400

> 500

> 17

Low Carbon

QTB 500

-----

-------

------

> 500

> 600

>14

Yield Strength, increased by 150 MPa

Good values of ductility
Better uniformity and repeatability of mechanical properties
Improved Welding ability through reduction of alloying elements

Thank You
All