Amagasaki Research and Development Center-Employing 1,000 N-grade Steel

摘要

Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. (now Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation) has developed 1,000 N-grade high-strength steel (tensile strength: 950 N/mm2), which is rated as the world's highest grade of steel. The first practical application of this steel was in the construction of the main building of the company's Comprehensive Research and Development Center (currently the Amagasaki Research and Development Center of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal). (See Photo 1) 1,000 N-grade steel was developed by a joint R&D consortium composed of Sumitomo Metal, Osaka University, the Kyoto Institute of Technology, Katayama Stratech Corporation and Nikken Sekkei Ltd. The cooperative R&D was conducted from 2003 to 2010 and covered not only development of the steel itself and related welding materials but also welding conditions, such as heat input, preheating and post-heating.