Method for producing a starting material for the production of metallic components having regions of different strength

Abstract

A method for producing a semifinished material for the production of metallic components having regions of different strength may involve, in a first step, providing thermal energy to a first region of the semifinished material that is uncoated such that the first region is heated and a material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into austenite. Meanwhile, thermal energy may prevented from being supplied to a second region of the semifinished material. In a second step following the first step, the first region may be cooled such that the material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into martensite.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for producing a semifinished material for production of a metallic component having regions of different strength, the method comprising:
 supplying thermal energy to a first region of the semifinished material that is uncoated such that the first region is heated and a material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into austenite, wherein the thermal energy is prevented from being supplied to a second region of the semifinished material; and   cooling the first region following the supply of the thermal energy such that the material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into martensite.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the thermal energy is supplied by way of a laser or an induction coil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first region has a strip-shaped form. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first region comprises a plurality of strip-shaped portions that are separated from one another by strip-shaped portions of the second region. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of strip-shaped portions in the first region have the same center-to-center spacings. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of strip-shaped portions in the first region have different center-to-center spacings. cm  20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein supplying the thermal energy comprises supplying a third region of the semifinished material with the thermal energy such that the third region is heated to a higher temperature than the first region, wherein the cooling comprises cooling the third region. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the semifinished material has a material thickness, wherein the thermal energy is supplied to the first region in a manner such that the thermal energy is distributed inhomogeneously over the material thickness. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein a maximum of the supplied thermal energy is arranged in an inner region of the semifinished material. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  comprising forming the semifinished material by at least one of cold rolling or warm rolling after the thermal energy is supplied to the first region. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14  comprising forming the semifinished material by pressing after the thermal energy is supplied to the first region. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14  comprising forming the semifinished material by pressing the semifinished material in a plate press after the thermal energy is supplied to the first region. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14  comprising coating the semifinished material after the first region of the semifinished material is cooled. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for producing a semifinished material for production of a metallic component having regions of different strength, the apparatus comprising:
 an energy supply device for supplying thermal energy to a first region of the semifinished material that is uncoated such that the first region is heated and a material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into austenite, wherein the energy supply device prevents the thermal energy from being supplied to a second region of the semifinished material; and   a cooling apparatus for cooling the first region such that the material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into martensite.