A tribute to Paul E. Repas

摘要

The origin of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels is generally attributed to Williams~1, who in 1900 called attention to the increased corrosion resistance of a copper containing steel when alternately wet and dried. However, it was not until 1933 when U. S. Steel introduced COR-TEN steel that the added bonus of high strength in combination with markedly improved atmospheric corrosion resistance was achieved. From these humble beginnings, the continued development and application HSLA steels evolved in part because of the increasing technology base associated with these steels as well as the constantly increasing sophistication in the equipment and techniques used to process them. A great deal of the progress occurred during Paul E. Repas' 33 year career at U. S. Steel, and he played an important role in that progress. In reviewing his works, it is clear that it is easy to achieve strength alone in steel, but it is a challenge to do so while simultaneously achieving a desirable combination of other properties. To help meet this challenge, Paul devoted a significant portion of his career to develop a thorough understanding of the strengthening mechanisms available in steel, as a necessary prelude to the development of new steel products. His contributions included organizing conferences aimed at understanding the various strengthening mechanisms in steel, preparing papers on various strengthening topics, and creatively using the technology to achieve useful new steel products. In this keynote paper, his role in the evolution of HSLA technology is reviewed, utilizing both his published and unpublished works.