The project is aimed at an improved understanding of the evolution of microstructure, material properties, internal stress/strain fields, flatness and squareness, during hot rectification and cooling of plates and sections, establishing the sensitivities of product condition at entry to cold rectification. Hot rectification and cooling processes will be optimised to achieve required mechanical and dimensional properties, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for cold rectification. Warm rectification will also be considered as a mean to increase throughput and reduce mechanical work on finished products. Regime maps will be developed covering key products and grades, and selectively tested in industrial conditions.
