Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an alloy sheet for shadow mask having high press-formability.
Description of the Related Arts
[0002] Recent up-grading trend of color television toward high definition TV has employed
Fe-Ni alloy containing 34 to 38wt.% Ni as the alloy for making a shadow mask to suppress
color-phase shift. Compared with low carbon steel which has long been used as a shadow
mask material, conventional Fe-Ni alloy has considerably lower thermal expansion coefficient.
Accordingly, a shadow mask made of conventional Fe-Ni alloy raises no problem of color-phase
shift coming from the thermal expansion of shadow mask even when an electron beam
heats the shadow mask.
[0003] Common practice of making the alloy sheet for shadow mask includes the following
steps. An alloy ingot is prepared by continuous casting process or ingot-making process.
The alloy ingot is subjected to slabbing, hot-rolling, cold-rolling, and annealing
to form an alloy sheet.
[0004] The alloy sheet for the shadow mask is then processed usually in the following steps
to form shadow mask. (1) The alloy sheet is photo-etched to form passage-holes for
the electron beam on the alloy sheet for shadow mask. The alloy sheet for shadow mask
perforated by etching is hereinafter referred to as "flat mask". (2) The flat mask
is subjected to annealing. (3) The annealed flat mask is pressed into a curved shape
of cathode ray tube. (4) The press-formed flat mask is assembled to a shadow mask
which is then subjected to blackening treatment.
[0005] Since the shadow mask material of conventional Fe-Ni alloy prepared by cold-rolling,
recrystallization annealing, and finish-rolling has higher strength than conventional
low carbon steel shadow mask material, it is softened by softening-annealing (annealing
before pressing) at a temperature of 800°C or higher temperature for securing the
good press-formability after perforation by etching. The softening at a high temperature
of 800°C is, however, not favorable from the view point of work efficiency and also
of economy. Accordingly, the industry waits for the development of materials which
provide a strength as low as the material having been softened at the temperature
of 800°C or higher even if they are subjected to softening at a low temperature.
[0006] Improvement of press-formability of an INVAR alloy for shadow mask was disclosed
in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-267320. This prior art provides
a technology to reduce strength under a low temperature softening annealing at below
800°C, where an alloy is treated by cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing, and
finish cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 5 to 20wt%. The temperature of softening
is below 800°C. The prior art produces a sheet having sufficiently low strength to
give good press-formability with the 0.2wt% proof stress of 9.5kgf/mm² (less than
10kgf/mm²) at 200°C by the softening annealing at the temperature of less than 800°C.
[0007] However, the technology disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
3-267320 only focuses on the average grain size and strength, and the disclosed process
of induces considerable increase of degree of {100} plane and generates mixed grain
structure. As a result, the shadow masks prepared by the prior art were found to gall
the dies during press-forming and easily generate cracks at the edge of shadow masks.
In addition, the material prepared by the prior art gave large plane anisotropy to
induce blurted periphery of pierced hole of shadow mask after press-forming, which
raised quality problems.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an alloy sheet for making a shadow
mask which has a superior press-formability which offers a high screen quality without
inducing color-phase shift.
[0009] To achieve the object, the present invention provides an alloy sheet for shadow mask
consisting essentially of 34 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.07wt.% or less Si, 0.001wt.% or less
B, 0.003wt.% or less O, 0.002wt.% or less N, and the balance being Fe and inevitable
impurities;
[0010] said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of
austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220 and
satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degrees of crystal plane on the alloy sheet surface
of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
Said alloy sheet may include 1wt.% or less Co.
[0011] Furthermore, the present invention provides an alloy sheet for making a shadow mask
consisting essentially of 28 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.07wt.% or less Si, over 1wt.% to 7wt.%
Co, 0.001wt.% or less B, 0.003wt.% or less O, 0.002wt.% or less N, and the balance
being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of
austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220 and
satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degrees of crystal planes on the alloy sheet
surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
[0012] Still further, the present invention provides an alloy sheet for making a shadow
mask consisting essentially of 34 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.01 to 3wt.% Cr, 0.2wt.% or less
Si, 0.005wt.% or less B, 0.004wt.% or less O, 0.003wt.% or less N, 0.05wt.% or less
Sb, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of the maximum size to the minimum size
of austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220
and satisfying the relation of
said alloy sheet having degree sof crystal plane on the alloy sheet surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
Said alloy sheet may include 1wt.% or less Co.
[0013] Furthermore, the present invention provides an alloy sheet for making a shadow mask
consisting essentially of 28 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.01 to 3wt.% Cr, over 1wt.% to 7wt.% Co,
0.2wt.% or less Si, 0.005wt.% or less B, 0.004wt.% or less O, 0.003wt.% or less N,
0.05wt.% or less Sb, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, having the ratio of a maximum size to a minimum
size of austenite grains, Dmax/Dmin, being 1 to 15, having Vickers hardness (Hv) of
165 to 220 and satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having degrees of crystal planes on the alloy sheet surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0014]
Fig. 1 is a graph showing a effect of an average austenite grain size and a Vickers
hardness on a press-formability according to the preferred embodiment 1;
Fig. 2 is a graph showing a relation between a degree of mixed grain for austenite
grains and production of blurred periphery of pierced hole according to the preferred
embodiment 1;
Fig. 3 is a graph showing a relation between a gathering degree of {100} plane and
a degree of mixed grain of austenite grains according to the preferred embodiment
1;
Fig. 4 is a graph showing a effect of an average austenite grain size and Vickers
hardness on a press-formability according to the preferred embodiment 2;
Fig. 5 is a graph showing a relation between a degree of mixed grain for austenite
grains, and production of blurred periphery of pierced hole according to the preferred
embodiment 2; and
Fig. 6 is a graph showing a relation between a gathering degree of {100} plane and
a degree of mixed grain for austenite grains according to the preferred embodiment
2.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Preferred Embodiment 1
[0015] An alloy sheet consisting essentially of Fe, Ni, Si, B, O, and N, and an alloy sheet
consisting essentially of Fe, Ni, Si, Co, B, O, and N of the present invention are
descrisbed in the following.
[0016] The reason why the composition of the present invention is limited is described below.
[0017] A Fe-Ni alloy sheet for shadow mask is requested to have the upper limit of average
thermal expansion coefficient of 2.0 x (1/10⁶)/°C in the temperature range of 30 to
100°C for the prevention of color-phase shift. The thermal expansion coefficient depends
on the Ni content of the alloy, and the Ni content which satisfies the above specified
upper limit of the average thermal expansion coefficient is in a range of from 34
to 38wt.%. Accordingly, the Ni content is specified as 34 to 38wt.%. For further low
average thermal expansion coefficient, the Ni content is preferably adjusted to 35
to 37wt.%, and most preferably to 35.5 to 36.5wt.%. Usually, Fe-Ni alloys include
Co to some extent as an inevitable impurity, and the Co content of less than 1wt.%
affects very little the characteristics of alloy while the above specified range of
Ni content is acceptable. However, a Fe-Ni alloy which contains Co of over 1wt.% and
to 7wt.% needs to limit the Ni content to be in the range of 28 to 38wt.% for satisfying
the above described condition of average thermal expansion coefficient. Therefore,
if the Co content is over 1wt.% to 7wt.%, then the Ni content is specified to be in
a range of from 28 to 38wt.%. By adjusting the Co content to be 3 to 6wt.% and the
Ni content to be 30 to 33wt.%, a superior characteristic giving lower average thermal
expansion coefficient is obtained. If the Co content exceeds 7wt.%, the thermal expansion
coefficient increases to give a superior characteristic, so the upper limit of Co
content is specified as 7wt.%.
[0018] Oxygen is one of the inevitable impurities When oxygen content is increased, the
non-metallic oxide inclusion increases in the alloy. The non-metallic inclusion suppresses
the growth of crystal grains during the annealing before press-forming, particularly
at the temperature of less than 800°C. If the content of O exceeds 0.0030wt.%, the
growth of grains is inhibited, and the press-forming quality being aimed by the present
invention can not be obtained. In this respect, the present invention specifies the
upper limit of O content as 0.0030wt.%. The lower limit of O content is not specifically
limited, but it is substantially selected as 0.0001wt.% from the economy of ingot-making
process.
[0019] B improves the hot-workability of the alloy. Excess amount of B, however, induces
the segregation of B at boundary of recrystallized grains formed during annealing
before press-forming, which inhibits the free migration of grain boundaries and results
in the suppression of grain growth and the dissatisfaction of necessary 0.2wt.% proof
stress after the annealing before press-forming. In particular, under the annealing
before press-forming at a relatively low temperature, which is specified in the present
invention, the suppression against the grain growth is strong and the action does
not uniformly affects on all grains. As a result, a severe mixed grain structure appears
accompanied with irregular elongation of material during press-forming, which induces
blurred periphery of pierced hole on shadow mask. Boron content above 0.0010wt.% significantly
enhances the suppression of grain growth, and the press-formability aimed in the present
invention can not be obtained. Also the problem of blurred periphery of pierced hole
arises. Consequently, the present invention specifies the upper limit of B content
as 0.0010wt.%. From the above described viewpoint, more preferable B content is 0.0002wt.%
or less.
[0020] Silicon is added as the deoxidizer element during ingot-making of the alloy. When
the Si content exceeds 0.07wt.%, an oxide film of Si is formed on the surface of alloy
at the annealing before press-forming. The oxide film degrades the fitness with dies
during press-forming and results in the galling of dies by alloy sheet. Consequently,
the upper limit of Si content is specified as 0.07wt.%. Further reduction of Si content
improves the fitness of dies and alloy sheet. The lower limit of Si content is not
necessarily specified but approximately 0.001wt.% is the virtual lower limit from
the economy of ingot-making process.
[0021] Nitrogen is an element unavoidably entering into the alloy during ingot-making process.
Nitrogen content of 0.0020wt.% or more induces the concentration of N on the surface
of alloy during the annealing before press-forming and yields nitride. The nitride
degrades the fitness of alloy with dies during the press-forming process and induces
galling of dies by alloy sheet. Consequently, the N content is specified as less than
0.0020wt.%. Although the lower limit of N content is not necessarily defined, 0.0001wt.%
is lower limit from the economy of ingot-making process.
[0022] Regarding the elements other than above described, preferable range of C is 0.0001
to 0.0040wt.%, that of Mn is 0.001 to 0.35wt.%, and that of Cr is 0.001 to 0.07wt.%.
[0023] According to the present invention, to improve the shape fix ability, to suppress
crack generation on alloy sheet surface during press-forming, and to prevent generation
of blurred periphery of pierced hole of prepared shadow mask, it is necessary to define,
in addition to the composition above specified, the specific range for each of an
average austenite grain size (Dav) before the annealing before press-forming, a ratio
of maximum to minimum size of austenite grains, (Dmax/Dmin) and the Vickers hardness
(Hv) and furthermore it is necessary to specify the relation between the Vickers hardness
(Hv) and the average austenite grain size (Dav) to satisfy a specific correlation.
[0024] Fig. 1 shows the effect of average austenite grain size, Dav, and Vickers hardness,
Hv, before the annealing before press-forming on the press-formability. In that case,
the alloy was subjected to the annealing before press-forming at a temperature below
800°C followed by the press-forming. The employed alloy sheet included: 34 to 38wt.%
Ni, 0.07wt.% or less Si, 0.001wt.% or less B, 0.003wt.% or less O, and below 0.002wt.%
N. The gathering degree of plane of the alloy was as follows: 14% or less for {111}
plane, 5 to 75% for {100} plane, 5 to 40% for {110} plane, 20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane, 20% or less for {210} plane, and 20% or less for {211}
plane. The alloy sheet had a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of austenite
grains, Dmax/Dmin, in a range of from 1 to 15.
[0025] According to Fig. 1, the value of average austenite grain size, Dav, less than 10.5µm
can not enhance the growth of grain in an alloy sheet during the annealing before
press-forming under the temperature condition being aimed by the present invention,
below 800°C, and increases spring back and results in a poor shape fix ability because
of the insufficient growth of grains. On the other hand, the value of Dav above 15.0µm
hinders the recrystallization during the annealing before press-forming and results
in a poor shape fix ability owing to the insufficient recrystallization.
[0026] Vickers hardness, Hv, is mainly determined by the reduction ratio of cold-rolling.
The value of Hv below 165 can not give sufficient strain to the alloy sheet, and gives
only a weak driving force for recrystallization during the annealing before press-forming.
The result is insufficient recrystallization, which leaves the alloy sheet at a rather
rigid state even after the annealing before press-forming. As a result, the shape
fix ability is poor. On the other hand, when excess strain is given to the alloy sheet
to induce Hv above 220, the driving force for recrystallization during the annealing
before press-forming becomes strong, which yields excess frequency of nuclei formation
during recrystallization. Consequently, the grains become fine after the annealing
before press-forming to degrade the shape fix ability.
[0027] Fig. 1 also indicates that an adequate recrystallization during the annealing before
press-forming is realized by keeping the relation between Vickers hardness, Hv, and
average austenite grain size Dav in a specific range. A large average austenite grain
size, Dav, before the annealing before press-forming requests a large degree of strain
for obtaining a sufficient driving force during the annealing before press-forming.
Accordingly, the lower limit of Vickers hardness, Hv, is necessary to be defined depending
on the corresponding average austenite grain size, Dav. On the other hand, since smaller
average austenite grain size, Dav, has larger number of nucleation sites, the upper
limit of Vickers hardness, Hv, is necessary to be defined depending on the corresponding
average austenite grain size, Dav, to prevent the generation of fine grains after
the annealing before press-forming. According to Fig. 1, even the Vickers hardness,
Hv, is 165 or more, if the equation of

is satisfied, then the driving force for the recrystallization during the annealing
before press-forming is relatively too small, and sufficient recrystallization can
not be attained. Therefore, the material remains rigid even after the annealing before
press-forming and is poor in the shape fix ability. Even when the Vickers hardness,
Hv, is 220 or less, if the equation of

is satisfied, then the driving force for the recrystallization during the annealing
before press-forming is relatively too large, the grains become fine after the annealing
before press-forming and the shape fix ability is poor.
[0028] Fig. 2 shows the relation between the ratio of the maximum size to the minimum size
of austenite grains, Dmax/Dmin, and the blurred periphery of pierced hole. The employed
alloy sheet consistes essentially of: 34 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.07wt.% or less Si, 0.001wt.%
or less B, 0.003wt.% or less O, and below 0.002wt.% N.
[0029] The Vickers hardness, Hv, and the average austenite grain size, Dav, satisfied the
equation:
The degree of plane of the alloy was as follows: 14% or less for {111} plane, 5
to 75% for {100} plane, 5 to 40% for {110} plane, 20% or less for {311} plane, 20%
or less for {331} plane, 20% or less for {210} plane, and 20% or less for {211} plane.
[0030] According to Fig. 2, when the ratio of the maximum size to the minimum size of austenite
grains, Dmax/Dmin, exceeds 15, the etched hole size becomes irregular and induces
blurred periphery of pierced hole. Smaller Dmax/Dmin value is more favorable, and
the lower limit of the Dmax/Dmin is specified as 1.
[0031] From the consideration given above, the present invention specifies the average austenite
grain size, Dav, before the annealing before press-forming as in a range of from 10.5
to 15.0µm, the ratio of the maximum size to the minimum size of the austenite grains,
Dmax/Dmin, (which ratio is hereinafter referred to simply as "degree of austenite
mixed grain"), as in a range of from 1 to 15, and the Vickers hardness, Hv, as in
a range of from 165 to 220, and also satisfies the following equation:
for enhancing the growth of grain during the annealing before press-forming, for improving
the shape fix ability, and for suppressing the blurted periphery of pierced hole of
prepared shadow mask.
[0032] For the prevention of crack generation during the press-forming and for the prevention
of blurred periphery of pierced hole and partial color-phase shift on the prepared
shadow mask, which are the objects of the present invention, it is important to limit
the gathering degree of planes on the alloy sheet surface before annealing before
press-forming, as well as the limitations specified above.
[0033] The inventors found that the control of the gathering degree of {211} plane on the
alloy sheet surface before annealing before press-forming effectively suppresses the
crack generation during press-forming and that the control of the degree of {100}
plane and {110} plane suppresses the blurted periphery of pierced hole on the prepared
shadow mask and that the control of the degree of {111} plane, {311} plane, {331}
plane, and {210} plane suppresses the partial color-phase shift on the prepared shadow
mask.
[0034] In concrete terms, when the degree of {211} plane exceeds 20%, the alloy sheet generates
cracks during press-forming. When the degree of {111} plane, {311} plane, {331} plane,
and {210} plane exceeds 14%, 20%, 20%, and 20%, respectively, the etched hole shape
abnormally deforms during press-forming, which induces partial color-phase shift.
[0035] The control of the degree of {100} plane and {110} plane is necessary for limiting
the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, in the range specified in the present
invention. When the degree of {100} plane exceeds 75% or when the degree of {110}
plane exceeds 40%, the degree of austenite mixed grain exceeds 15. In that case, the
recrystallization during the annealing before press-forming does not proceed uniformly,
and the grains after the annealing before press-forming become mixed grain state inducing
blurred periphery of pierced hole on the prepared shadow mask. When the degree of
{100} plane is less than 5%, the degree of {110} plane exceeds 40%. When the degree
of {110} plane is less than 5%, the degree of {100} plane exceeds 75%. In both cases,
the degree of austenite mixed grain exceeds 15 and induces blurred periphery of pierced
hole on the prepared shadow mask. Fig. 3 shows the relation between the degree of
{100} plane and the degree of mixed grain. According to Fig. 3, the degree of austenite
mixed grain can be controlled in a range of 1 to 15 by controlling the degree of {100}
plane in a range of 5 to 75%. The degree of mixed grain is further reduced by controlling
the degree of {100} plane in a further limited range of 8 to 46% for more effective
suppression of blurred periphery of pierced hole.
[0036] From the consideration given above, the present invention specifies the gathering
degree of each plane on the alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming as listed
below:
Gathering degree of {111} plane : 14% or less
Gathering degree of {100} plane : 5 to 75%
Gathering degree of {110} plane : 5 to 40%
Gathering degree of {311} plane : 20% or less
Gathering degree of {331} plane : 20% or less
Gathering degree of {210} plane : 20% or less
Gathering degree of {211} plane : 20% or less
The value of the gathering degree given above is the relative rate of each plane
to the total gathering degree of planes, {111}, {100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210},
and {211}.
[0037] The gathering degree of respective plane is determined from the X-ray diffraction
intensity on each X-ray diffraction plane, (111), (200), (220), (311), (331), (420),
and (422). For example, the degree of (111) plane is determined by dividing the relative
X-ray diffraction intensity ratio of (111) plane by the sum of relative X-ray intensity
ratio on each diffraction plane, (111), (200), (220), (311), (331), (420), and (422).
The degree of other planes, (100), (110), (311), (331), (210), and (211) can be determined
by the same procedure. The relative X-ray diffraction intensity ratio is the ratio
of the X-ray diffraction intensity measured on each diffraction plane to the theoretical
X-ray intensity on the diffraction plane. For instance, the relative X-ray diffraction
intensity ratio of (111) plane is the X-ray diffraction intensity of (111) diffraction
plane divided by the theoretical X-ray diffraction intensity of (111) diffraction
plane.
[0038] The degree of each plane, {100}, {110}, {210}, and {211} is determined from the relative
X-ray diffraction intensity ratio of (200), (220), (420), and (422) plane, each of
which has the same orientation with corresponding plane, divided by the sum of relative
X-ray diffraction intensity ratio of the seven diffraction planes, (111) through (422).
[0039] The degree of each plane, {111}, {100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211}, before
the annealing before press-forming, which is specified by the present invention, is
normally obtained by selecting adequate condition of treatment after the hot-rolling
step.
[0040] For example, when an alloy sheet of the present invention is produced by hot-rolling
a slab prepared by slabbing or continuous casting followed by a sequence of annealing
of hot-rolled sheet, cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing, cold-rolling, recrystallization
annealing, cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing, finish cold rolling, and stress
relief annealing, an effective condition to obtain the degree of plane difined above
is the control of the annealing temperature during the annealing of hot-rolled sheet
at an adequate level in a range of from 910 to 990°C and furthermore the selection
of optimum condition of cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing, finish cold-rolling,
and stress relief annealing. Also for the average austenite grain size, Dav, the degree
of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, and the Vickers hardness, Hv, specified by the
present invention, the optimization is achieved by controlling the conditions of cold-rolling,
recrystallization annealing, finish cold-rolling, and stress relief annealing.
[0041] To obtain a degree of planes specified by the present invention, the uniform heat
treatment of a slab after blooming or after continuous casting is not preferable.
For instance, when the homogenization is carried out at 1200°C or higher temperature
and for 10 hours or longer period, the degree of one or more of the planes {111},
{100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211} dissatisfies the specification of the
present invention. Therefore, such a homogenization treatment should be avoided.
[0042] Other means may be employed to satisfy the degree of planes specified by the present
invention. Quenching to solidify and agglomeration controlling through the control
of recrystallization during hot working are some of the examples of applicable means.
[0043] The alloy sheet of the present invention may be subjected to the annealing before
press-forming before the photo-etching step. If the annealing before press-forming
is performed at a relatively low temperature which is a condition of the present invention,
the quality of photo-etching is not degraded. In a conventional material, if the photo-etching
is applied after the annealing before press-forming at a relatively low temperature
specified by the present invention, the quality of the photo-etching is degraded,
so the annealing before press-forming is substantially not applicable before the photo-etching.
On the contrary, the materials of the present invention accept the photo-etching after
the annealing before press-forming without degrading the etching performance.
Example 1
[0044] The inventors prepared the alloys of No. 1 through No. 23 having the composition
listed on Table 1 and Table 2 by ladle refining, and cast the alloys of No. 1 through
No. 13 and No. 18 through No. 23 to form ingots. After they are subjected to slabbing,
scarfing, and hot-rolling at 1100°C for 3 hours, the hot-rolled sheets were obtained.
The alloys of No. 14 through No. 17 were cast directly into sheets which were then
hot-rolled at the reduction ratio of 30% in the temperature range of from 1000 to
1300°C followed by coiling at 750°C to obtain the hot-rolled sheets. From these hot-rolled
sheets, the alloy sheets of materials No. 1 through No. 34 listed on Table 3 through
Table 6 were prepared.
[0045] In Table 3 and Table 4, Dmax represents the maximum austenite grain size in alloy
sheet, and Dmin represents the minimum austenite grain size in the alloy sheet.
[0046] In Table 5 and Table 6, the criteria for evaluation of the shape fix ability, the
fitness of dies and alloy sheet, and the blurted periphery of pierced hole are the
following.
[0047] Regarding the shape fix ability, "Ⓞ" mark indicates "very good", "○" indicates "good",
and "X" indicates "rather poor".
[0048] As for the fitness to dies and alloy sheet, "○" mark indicates "good without ironing
mark", "△" indicates "rather poor with a few ironing marks", and "X" indicates "poor
with lots of ironing marks".
[0049] For the blurred periphery of pierced hole, "Ⓞ" mark indicates "definitely none",
"○" indicates "none", "△" indicates "found some", and "X" indicates "generated".
[0050] Materials No. 1 through No. 21 and No. 27 through No. 30 were the alloy sheets having
the thickness of 0.25mm and were produced from the hot-rolled sheets of alloys No.
1 through No. 21 by the treatment of annealing of hot-rolled sheet in the temperature
range of 910 to 990°C, cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing in the temperature
range of 860 to 940°C for 125sec., cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing in the
temperature range of 860 to 940°C for 125sec., finish cold-rolling at the reduction
ratio of 15%, and stress relief annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
[0051] Materials No. 22 and No. 26 were the alloy sheets having the thickness of 0.25mm
and were produced from the hot-rolled sheets of alloys No. 22 and No. 2 by the treatment
of cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 92.5%, recrystallization annealing at 850°C
for 1min., finish cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 15%, and stress relief annealing
at 530°C for 3sec.
[0052] Material No. 24 was the alloy sheet having the thickness of 0.25mm and was produced
from the hot-rolled sheet of alloy No. 1 by the treatment of annealing of hot-rolled
sheet at 950°C, cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 74%, recrystallization annealing
at 950°C for 180sec., cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 40%, recrystallization
at 950°C for 180sec., finish cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 15%, and stress
relief annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
[0053] Material No. 25 was the alloy sheet having the thickness of 0.25mm and was produced
from the hot-rolled sheet of alloy No. 1 by the treatment of annealing of hot-rolled
sheet at 950°C, cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing at 800°C for 30 sec., cold-rolling,
recrystallization annealing at 800°C for 30sec., finish cold-rolling, and stress relief
annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
[0054] Material No. 23 was the alloy sheet having the thickness of 0.25mm and was produced
from the hot-rolled sheet of alloy No. 23 by the treatment of annealing of hot-rolled
sheet at 970°C, cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing at 800°C for 30sec., cold-rolling,
recrystallization annealing at 800°C for 30sec., finish cold-rolling, and stress relief
annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
[0055] Materials No. 31 through No. 34 were the alloy sheets having the thickness of 0.25mm
and were produced from the hot-rolled sheets of alloys No. 3, No. 4, and No. 7 by
the treatment of cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing in the temperature range
of 860 to 940°C for 125sec., cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing in the temperature
range of 860 to 940°C for 125sec., finish cold-rolling, and stress relief annealing
at 530°C for 30sec.
[0056] All those produced hot-rolled sheets showed sufficient recrystallization after annealing.
[0057] Alloy sheets of material No. 1 through No. 12 and No. 15 through No. 34 prepared
by the treatment described above were etched and formed into flat masks. The flat
masks were treated by the annealing before press-forming at 770°C for 45min., followed
by press-forming. The press-formability was tested during the procedure. Partial color-phase
shift was measured after blackening the press-formed shadow masks, assembling them
into cathode ray tube, and irradiating electron beam on the surface thereof. Alloy
sheets of material No. 13 and No. 14 were subjected to the annealing before press-forming
at 795°C for 3min., which were then etched and formed into flat masks. Those flat
masks were press-formed to determine the press-formability. Those alloys were also
checked for the partial color-phase shift using the same procedure as before.
[0058] Table 3 and Table 4 give the average austenite grain size, Dav, before the annealing
before press-forming, the degree of austenite mixed grains, Dmax/Dmin, the Vickers
hardness, Hv,

and

. Table 5 and Table 6 give the degree of each plane on the sheet surface before the
annealing before press-forming, the press-formability, and the partial color-phase
shift.
[0059] According to Table 3 through Table 6, materials No. 1 through No. 13 satisfied the
conditions specified in the present invention, which conditions include the degree
of planes, {111}, {100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211}, the average austenite
grain size, Dav, the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, the Vickers hardness,
Hv, and the condition of

. All of those materials gave an excellent press-formability without giving partial
color-phase shift. Materials No. 14 through No. 17 which contained Co and which are
the examples of the present invention also showed excellent characteristics. Materials
No. 13 and No. 14 were subjected to the annealing before press-forming before the
etching, and they were found to have proper performance as the shadow mask even they
were treated by the described production process.
[0060] On the contrary, materials No. 18 and No. 20 are comparative examples each containing
the amount of Si and N larger than the specified level of the present invention, respectively,
and they raised the problem of fitness to dies during press-forming step. Material
No. 19 is a comparative example containing the amount of O larger than the specified
level of the present invention, and it gave the average austenite grain size, Dav,
before the annealing before press-forming less than 10.5µm. Therefore, the material
No. 19 gave a poor shape fix ability at the press-forming, and generated cracks on
the alloy sheet. Furthermore, the degree of austenite mixed grain of the material
No. 19 exceeded the specified level of the present invention, so the blurred periphery
of pierced hole also occurred.
[0061] Materials No. 21 and No. 22 are comparative examples including the amount of B above
the specified range of the present invention, and both gave the average austenite
grain size, Dav, less than 10.5µm. Consequently, they were inferior in the shape fix
ability at press-forming and they induced cracks on the alloy sheets. In addition,
their degree of austenite mixed grain also exceeded the specified range of the present
invention so that the blurred periphery of pierced hole occurred. In particular, the
material No. 22 was produced by cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 92.5%, recrystallization
annealing at 850°C for 1min., and finish cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 15%
without applying the annealing of hot-rolled sheet, following the technology which
was disclosed by the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-267320. The material
No. 22 gave the degree of {110} plane and {100} plane outside of the range specified
by the present invention. Particularly, the degree of austenite mixed grain became
a high level.
[0062] Material No. 26 was prepared with the same procedure as applied to material No. 22,
and the material No. 26 is a comparative example which gave the degree of {100} plane
and {110} plane outside of the range specified by the present invention. The material
No. 26 gave a large degree of austenite mixed grain so that the blurred periphery
of pierced hole occurred. As described above, even if an alloy satisfies the composition
condition of the present invention, it can not provide an excellent press-formability
unless it satisfies the condition of the present invention on the degree of planes
and the degree of austenite mixed grain.
[0063] Materials No. 24 and No. 25 were produced under the condition of recrystallization
annealing after the cold-rolling, at 950°C for 180sec. and at 800°C for 30sec., respectively.
Material No. 24 is a comparative example which gave the average austenite grain size,
Dav, above the specified range of the present invention, and material No. 25 is a
comparative example which gave the average austenite grain size, Dav, below the specified
range of the present invention. Both materials were inferior in the shape fix ability.
[0064] Materials No. 31 through No. 34 were prepared employing the same processes after
the cold-rolling step as in the case of No. 1 through No. 21 without using annealing
of hot-rolled sheet. Among them, the material No. 31 is a Comparative example giving
the degree of {110} plane outside of the specified range of the present invention,
which material gave the degree of austenite mixed grain above the specified range
of the present invention, and the blurred periphery of pierced hole occurred. Material
No. 33 is a Comparative example giving the degree of {211} plane above the specified
range of the present invention, which induced cracks on the alloy sheet. Material
No. 32 is a Comparative example giving the degree of {111} plane and {311} plane outside
of the specified range of the present invention. Material No. 34 is a Comparative
example giving the degree of {311} plane and {210} plane above the specified range
of the present invention. Those comparative examples induced partial color phase shipt.
[0065] Materials No. 27, No. 28, No. 29, and No. 30 are Comparative examples giving Vickers
hardness, Hv, above the specified range of the present invention, Vickers hardness,
Hv, below the specified range of the present invention,

, and

, respectively. All of them showed poor shape fix ability.
[0066] As described above, the Fe-Ni alloy sheet and Fe-Ni-Co alloy sheet for shadow mask
having excellent press-formability and screen quality being aimed by the present invention
are obtained by satisfying the conditions of composition, degree of planes before
the annealing before press-forming, average austenite grain size, Dav, degree of austenite
mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, Vickers hardness, Hv, and the condition of

, which conditions are specified by the present invention.
Preferred Embodiment 2
[0068] An alloy sheet consisting essentially of Fe, Ni, Cr, Si, B, O, N, and Sb, and an
alloy sheet consisting essentially of Fe, Ni, Cr, Co, Si, B, O, N, and Sb of the present
invention are described in the following.
[0069] The reason why the composition of the present invention is limited is described below.
[0070] A Fe-Ni alloy sheet for shadow mask is requested to have the upper limit of average
thermal expansion coefficient of 3.0 x (1/10⁶)/°C in the temperature range of 30 to
100°C for the prevention of color-phase shift. The thermal expansion coefficient depends
on the Ni content of the alloy, and the Ni content which satisfies the above specified
upper limit of the average thermal expansion coefficient is in a range of from 34
to 38wt.%. Accordingly, the Ni content is specified as 34 to 38wt.%. For further low
average thermal expansion coefficient, the Ni content is preferably adjusted to 35
to 37wt.%, and most preferably to 35.5 to 36.5wt.%. In ordinary cases, Fe-Ni alloys
contain Co to some extent as an inevitable impurity, and the Co content of 1wt.% or
less affects very little on the characteristics of alloy while the above specified
range of Ni content is acceptable.
[0071] However, a Fe-Ni alloy which contains Co over 1wt.% to 7wt.% needs to limit the Ni
content to be in a range from 28 to 38wt.% for satisfying the above described condition
of average thermal expansion coefficient. Therefore, if the Co content is over 1wt.%
to 7wt.%, then the Ni content is specified to be in a range of from 28 to 38wt.%.
By adjusting the Co content to be in a range of 3 to 6wt.% and the Ni content to a
range of from 30 to 33wt.%, a superior characteristic giving lower average thermal
expansion coefficient is obtained. If the Co content exceeds 7wt.%, the thermal expansion
coefficient degrades, so the upper limit of Co content is specified as 7wt.%.
[0072] Chromium improves the corrosion resistance of alloy, but degrades (increase) thermal
expansion coefficient. When the alloy is adjusted to have a gathering degree of planes,
grain size, and hardness to satisfy the condition of the present invention, which
condition is described below, an effect of improving corrosion resistance is obtained
when the alloy has Co content of 0.01wt.% or more. On the other hand, when the Cr
content exceeds 3wt.%, the alloy can not provide the average thermal expansion coefficient
specified by the present invention. Chromium content of less than 0.01% gives no effect
of improvement in corrosion resistance. Therefore, the upper limit and the lower limit
of Cr content are specified as 3.0wt.% and 0.01wt.%, respectively.
[0073] Oxygen is one of the inevitable impurities. Increased content of O increases the
non-metallic oxide inclusion in the alloy, which inclusion suppresses the growth of
crystal grains during the annealing before press-forming. Particularly at the temperature
less than 800°C, the O inclusion suppresses the grain growth. If the content of O
exceeds 0.004wt.%, the growth of grains is significantly interfered, and the press-forming
quality being aimed by the present invention can not be obtained. In this respect,
the present invention specifies the upper limit of O content as 0.004wt.%. The lower
limit of O content is not specifically limited, but it is substantially selected as
0.0001wt.% from the economy of ingot-making process.
[0074] B improves the hot-working performance of the alloy. Excess amount of B, however,
induces the segregation of B at boundary of recrystallized grains formed during annealing
before press-forming, which inhibits the free migration of grain boundaries and results
in the suppression of grain growth and the dissatisfaction of necessary 0.2wt.% proof
stress after the annealing before press-forming. In particular, under the annealing
before press-forming at a relatively low temperature, which is specified in the present
invention, the suppression against the grain growth is strong and the action does
not uniformly affects on all grains. As a result, a severe mixed grain structure appears
accompanied with irregular elongation of material during press-forming, which induces
blurred periphery of pierced hole on shadow mask. Boron content above 0.005wt.% significantly
enhances the suppression of grain growth, and the press-formability being aimed in
the present invention can not be obtained. Also the problem of blurted periphery of
pierced hole arises. Consequently, the present invention specifies the upper limit
of B content as 0.005wt.%. From the above described viewpoint, more preferable B content
is 0.001wt.% or less.
[0075] Silicon is added as the deoxidizer element during ingot-making of the alloy. When
the Si content exceeds 0.2wt.%, an oxide film of Si is formed on the surface of alloy
atthe annealing before press-forming. The oxide film degrades the fitness with dies
during press-forming and results in the galling of dies by alloy sheet. Consequently,
the upper limit of Si content is specified as 0.2wt.%. Further reduction of Si content
improves the fitness of dies and alloy sheet. The lower limit of Si content is not
necessarily specified but approximately 0.001wt.% is the virtual lower limit from
the economy of ingot-making process.
[0076] Nitrogen is an element unavoidably enters into the alloy during ingot-making process.
Nitrogen content of 0.003wt.% or more induces the concentration of N on the surface
of alloy during the annealing before press-forming and yields nitride. The nitride
degrades the fitness of alloy with dies during the press-forming process and induces
galling of dies by alloy sheet. Consequently, the N content is specified as 0.003wt.%
or less. Although the lower limit of N content is not necessarily defined, approximately
0.0001wt.% is the virtual lower limit from the economy of ingot-making process.
[0077] Antimony is an element of unavoidable inclusion, and the Sb content more than 0.05wt.%
interferes the growth of the alloy grains of the present invention, which inhibits
to obtain a grain size being aimed in the present invention. Consequently, the upper
limit of Sb content is specified as 0.05wt.%.
[0078] Regarding the elements other than above described, preferable range of C is 0.0001
to 0.010wt.% and that of Mn is 0.001 to 0.5wt.%.
[0079] According to the present invention, to improve the shape fix ability, to suppress
crack generation on alloy sheet surface during press-forming, and to prevent generation
of blurred periphery of pierced hole of prepared shadow mask, it is necessary to define,
in addition to the composition above specified, the specific range for each of the
average austenite grain size, Dav, before the annealing before press-forming, the
ratio of maximum size to minimum size of austenite grains, Dmax/Dmin, and the Vickers
hardness, Hv, and furthermore it is necessary to limit the relation between the Vickers
hardness, Hv, and the average austenite grain size, Dav, to satisfy a specific correlation.
[0080] Fig. 4 shows the effect of average austenite grain size, Dav, and Vickers hardness,
Hv, before the annealing before press-forming on the press-formability. In that case,
the alloy sheet had the composition specified in the present invention and had the
values of the ratio of the maximum size to the minimum size of austenite grains, Dmax/Dmin,
before annealing before press-forming and of the degree of each plane in the range
specified in the present invention, and the alloy sheet was subjected to the annealing
before press-forming at a temperature below 800°C followed by the press-forming. According
to Fig. 4, the value of Dav below 10.5µm can not enhance the growth of grain in alloy
sheet during the annealing before press-forming under the temperature condition being
aimed by the present invention, below 800°C, and increases spring back and results
in a poor shape fix ability because of the insufficient growth of grains. On the other
hand, the value of Dav above 15.0µm hinders the recrystallization during the annealing
before press-forming and results in a poor shape fix ability owing to the insufficient
recrystallization.
[0081] Vickers hardness, Hv, is mainly determined by the reduction ratio of cold-rolling.
The value of Hv below 165 can not give sufficient strain to the alloy sheet, and gives
only a weak driving force for recrystallization during the annealing before press-forming.
The result is insufficient recrystallization, which leaves the alloy sheet at a rather
rigid state even after the annealing before press-forming. As a result, the shape
fix ability is poor. On the other hand, when excess strain is given to the alloy sheet
to induce Hv above 220, the driving force for recrystallization during the annealing
before press-forming becomes strong, which yields excess frequency of nuclei formation
during recrystallization. Consequently, the grains become fine after the annealing
before press-forming to degrade the shape fix ability.
[0082] Fig. 4 also indicates that an adequate recrystallization during the annealing before
press-forming is realized by keeping the relation between Vickers hardness, Hv, and
average austenite grain size Dav. A large average austenite grain size, Dav, before
the annealing before press-forming requests a large degree of strain for obtaining
a sufficient driving force during the annealing before press-forming step. Accordingly,
the lower limit of Vickers hardness, Hv, is necessary to be defined depending on the
corresponding average austenite grain size, Dav. On the other hand, since smaller
average austenite grain size, Dav, has larger number of nucleation sites, the upper
limit of Vickers hardness, Hv, is necessary to be defined depending on the corresponding
average austenite grain size, Dav, to prevent the generation of fine grains after
the annealing before press-forming. According to Fig. 4, even the Vickers hardness,
Hv, is 165 or more, if the equation of

is satisfied, then the driving force for the recrystallization during the annealing
before press-forming is relatively too small, and sufficient recrystallization can
not be obtained. Therefore, the material remains rigid even after the annealing before
press-forming and is poor in the shape fix ability. Even when the Vickers hardness,
Hv, is 220 or less value, if the equation of

is satisfied, then the driving force for the recrystallization during the annealing
before press-forming is relatively too large, and the grains become fine after the
annealing before press-forming and shape fix ability is poor.
[0083] Fig. 5 shows the effect of the ratio of the maximum size to the minimum size of austenite
grains, Dmax/Dmin, before the annealing before press-forming on the blurted periphery
of pierced hole of prepared shadow mask. In that case, the alloy sheet had the composition
specified in the present invention and had the values of the average austenite grain
size, Dav, before annealing before press-forming, the Vickers hardness, Hv, and the
degree of each plane wi the range specified in the present invention, and the alloy
sheet was subjected to the annealing before press-forming at a temperature less than
800°C followed by the press-forming. According to Fig. 5, when the ratio of the maximum
size to the minimum size of austenite grains, Dmax/Dmin, exceeds 15, the etched hole
size becomes irregular and induces blurred periphery of pierced hole. Smaller Dmax/Dmin
value is more favorable, and the lower limit of the Dmax/Dmin is specified as 1.
[0084] From the consideration given above, the present invention specifies the average austenite
grain size, Dav, before the annealing before press-forming as in a range of from 10.5
to 15.0µm, the ratio of the maximum size to the minimum size of the austenite grains,
Dmax/Dmin, (which ratio is hereinafter referred to simply as "degree of austenite
mixed grain"), as in a range of from 1 to 15, and the Vickers hardness, Hv, as in
a range of from 165 to 220, and also specifies the following equation:
for enhancing the growth of grain during the annealing before press-forming, for improving
the shape fix ability, and for suppressing the blurred periphery of pierced hole of
prepared shadow mask.
[0085] For the prevention of crack generation during the press-forming and for the prevention
of blurted periphery of pierced hole and partial color-phase shift on the prepared
shadow mask, which are the objects of the present invention, it is important to limit
the degree of planes on the alloy sheet surface before annealing before press-forming,
as well as the limitations specified above.
[0086] The inventors found that the control of the degree of {211} plane on the alloy sheet
surface before annealing before press-forming effectively suppresses the crack generation
during press-forming and that the control of the degree of {100} plane and {110} plane
suppresses the blurred periphery of pierced hole on the prepared shadow mask and that
the control of the degree of {111} plane, {311} plane, {331} plane, and {210} plane
suppresses the partial color-phase shift on the prepared shadow mask.
[0087] In concrete terms, when the degree of {211} plane exceeds 20%, the alloy sheet generates
cracks during press-forming.
[0088] When the degree of {111} plane, {311} plane, {331} plane, and {210} plane exceeds
14%, 20%, 20%, and 20%, respectively, the etched hole shape abnormally deforms during
press-forming, which induces partial color-phase shift.
[0089] The control of the degree of {100} plane and {110} plane is necessary for limiting
the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, wi the range specified in the present
invention. When the degree of {100} plane exceeds 75% or when the degree of {110}
plane exceeds 40%, the degree of austenite mixed grain exceeds 15. In that case, the
recrystallization during the annealing before press-forming does not proceed uniformly,
and the grains after the annealing before press-forming become mixed grain state inducing
blurred periphery of pierced hole on the prepared shadow mask. When the degree of
{100} plane is less than 5%, the degree of {110} plane exceeds 40%. When the degree
of {110} plane is less than 5%, the degree of {100} plane exceeds 75%. In both cases,
the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, exceeds 15 and induces blurred periphery
of pierced hole on the prepared shadow mask.
[0090] Fig. 6 shows the relation between the degree of {100} plane and the degree of austenite
mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin. According to Fig. 6, the degree of austenite mixed grain can
be controlled within a range of 1 to 15 by controlling the degree of {100} plane within
a range of 5 to 75%. The degree of mixed grain is further reduced by controlling the
degree of {100} plane wi a further limited range of 8 to 46% for more effective suppression
of blurred periphery of pierced hole.
[0091] From the consideration given above, the present invention specifies the degree of
each plane on the alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming as listed below:
Degree of {111} plane : 14% or less
Degree of {100} plane : 5 to 75%
Degree of {110} plane : 5 to 40%
Degree of {311} plane : 20% or less
Degree of {331} plane : 20% or less
Degree of {210} plane : 20% or less
Degree of {211} plane : 20% or less
The value of the degree given above is the relative rate of each plane to the total
degree of planes, {111}, {100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211}.
[0092] The degree of each plane is determined from the degree of each plane divided by the
sum of the degree of planes, {111}, {100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211},
and expressed by percentage.
[0093] The degree of each plane, {111}, {100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211}, before
the annealing before press-forming, which is specified by the present invention, is
normally obtained by selecting adequate condition of treatment after the hot-rolling
step.
[0094] For example, when an alloy sheet of the present invention is produced by hot-rolling
a slab which was prepared by slabbing or continuous casting followed by a sequence
of annealing of hot-rolled sheet, primary cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing,
secondary cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing, finish cold rolling, and stress
relief annealing, an effective condition to obtain the degree of plane defined above
is the control of the annealing temperature during the annealing of hot-rolled sheet
step at an adequate level in a range of from 910 to 990°C and furthermore the selection
of optimum condition of cold-rolling, recrystallization annealing, finish cold-rolling,
and stress relief annealing.
[0095] To obtain the degree of planes specified by the present invention, the uniform heat
treatment of a slab after blooming or after continuous casting is not preferable.
For instance, when the uniform heat treatment is carried out at 1200°C or higher temperature
and for 10 hours or longer period, the degree of one or more of the planes {111},
{100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211} dissatisfies the specification of the
present invention. Therefore, such a uniform heat treatment should be avoided.
[0096] Other means may be employed to satisfy the degree of planes specified by the present
invention. Quenching to solidify and texture controlling through the control of recrystallization
during hot working are some of the examples of applicable means.
[0097] The alloy sheet of the present invention may be subjected to the annealing before
press-forming before the photo-etching step. If the annealing before press-forming
is performed at a relatively low temperature which is a condition of the present invention,
the quality of photo-etching is not degraded. In a conventional material, if the photo-etching
is applied after the annealing before press-forming at a relatively low temperature
specified by the present invention, the quality of the photo-etching is degraded,
so the annealing before press-forming is virtually not applicable before the photo-etching.
On the contrary, the materials of the present invention accept the photo-etching after
the annealing before press-forming without degrading the etching performance.
Example 2
[0098] The inventors prepared the alloys of No. 1 through No. 23 having the composition
listed on Table 7 by ladle refining. The alloys No. 1 through No. 13 were further
treated by continuous casting to obtain the continuous cast slabs, and the alloys
No. 18 through No. 23 were treated by molding to obtain ingots, which ingots were
then treated by adjusting and slabbing to prepare the slabs. Those slabs were subjected
to surface treatment and were charged into a furnace to be heated at 1100°C for 3
hours followed by hot-rolling to obtain the hot-rolled sheets.
[0099] Alloys No. 14 through No. 17 were cast directly into cast sheets which were then
hot-rolled in the temperature range of 1000 to 1300°C at the reduction ratio of 30%
and were coiled at 750°C to obtain the hot-rolled sheets.

[0100] From these hot-rolled sheets of alloys No. 1 through No. 23, the alloy sheets of
No. 1 through No. 34 listed on Table 8 and Table 9 were prepared.
[0101] In Table 8 and Table 9, Dmax represents the maximum austenite grain size in alloy
sheet, and Dmin represents the minimum austenite grain size in the alloy sheet.

[0102] The alloy sheets of materials No. 1 through No. 21 and No. 27 through No. 30 prepared
from the hot-rolled alloy sheets No. 1 through No. 21 had the thickness of 0.13mm
and were produced by the process (1) given below.
(1) annealing of hot-rolled sheet in the temperature range of 910 to 990°C - primary
cold-rolling - recrystallization annealing in the temperature range of 860 to 940°C
for 125sec. - secondary cold-rolling - recrystallization annealing in the temperature
range of 860 to 940°C for 125sec. - finish cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of
15% - stress relief annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
The alloy sheets of materials No. 22 and No. 26 prepared from the hot-rolled sheets
of alloys No. 22 and No. 26 had the thickness of 0.13mm and were produced by the process
(2) given below.
(2) primary cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 92.5% - recrystallization annealing
at 850°C for 60sec. - finish cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 15% - stress relief
annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
The alloy sheet of material No. 23 prepared from the hot-rolled sheet of alloy No.
23 had the thickness of 0.13mm and was produced by the process (3) given below.
(3) annealing of hot-rolled sheet at 970°C - primary cold-rolling - recrystallization
annealing at 860°C for 30sec. - secondary cold-rolling - recrystallization annealing
at 860°C for 30sec. - finish cold-rolling - stress relief annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
The alloy sheet of material No. 24 prepared from the hot-rolled sheet of alloy No.
1 had the thickness of 0.13mm and was produced by the process (4) given below.
(4) annealing of hot-rolled sheet at 950°C - primary cold-rolling at the reduction
ratio of 74% - recrystallization annealing at 950°C for 180sec. - secondary cold-rolling
at the reduction ratio of 40% - recrystallization at 950°C for 180sec. - finish cold-rolling
at the reduction ratio of 15% - stress relief annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
The alloy sheets of materials No. 25 prepared from the hot-rolled sheet of alloy No.
1 had the thickness of 0.13mm and was produced by the process (5) given below.
(5) annealing of hot-rolled sheet at 950°C - primary cold-rolling - recrystallization
annealing at 800°C for 30sec. - secondary cold-rolling - recrystallization annealing
at 800°C for 30sec. - finish cold-rolling - stress relief annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
The alloy sheets of materials No. 31 and No. 33 prepared from the hot-rolled sheet
of alloy No. 4, and the alloy sheet of material No. 32 prepared from the hot-rolled
sheet of alloy No. 3, and the alloy sheet of material No. 34 prepared from the hot-rolled
sheet of alloy No. 7 had the thickness of 0.13mm and were produced by the process
(6) given below.
(6) primary cold-rolling - recrystallization annealing in the temperature range of
860 to 940°C for 125sec. - secondary cold-rolling - recrystallization annealing in
the temperature range of 860 to 940°C for 125sec. - finish cold-rolling - stress relief
annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
All those produced hot-rolled sheets showed sufficient recrystallization after annealing.
The alloy sheets of materials No. 1 through No. 12 and No. 15 through No. 34 prepared
by the treatment described above were etched and formed into flat masks (shadow masks
before the press-forming). The flat masks were treated by the annealing before press-forming
at 770°C for 45min., followed by press-forming. The press-formability was tested during
the procedure. Partial color-phase shift was measured after blackening the press-formed
shadow masks, assembling them into cathode ray tubes, and irradiating electron beam
on the surface thereof. The alloy sheets of materials No. 13 and No. 14 were subjected
to the annealing before press-forming at 795°C for 3min., which were then etched and
formed into flat masks. Those flat masks were press-formed to determine the press-formability.
Those alloys were also checked for the partial color-phase shift using the same procedure
as before.
Table 8 and Table 9 give the average austenite grain size, Dav, before annealing before
press-forming, the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, the Vickers hardness,
Hv, and identification of the sign of

and

. Table 10 and Table 11 give the degree of each plane on the sheet surface before
the annealing before press-forming, the press-formability, the partial color-phase
shift, and the corrosion resistance.
In Table 10 and Table 11, the criteria for evaluation of the shape fix ability, the
fitness of dies and alloy sheet, and the blurred periphery of pierced hole are the
following.
Regarding the shape fix ability, "Ⓞ" mark indicates "very good", "○" indicates "good",
and "X" indicates "rather poor".
As for the fitness of dies and alloy sheet, "○" mark indicates "good without ironing
mark", "△" indicates "rather poor with a few ironing marks", and "X" indicates "poor
with lots of ironing marks".
For the blurred periphery of pierced hole, "Ⓞ" mark indicates "definitely none", "○"
indicates "none", "△" indicates "found some", and "X" indicates "generated".
The spot rust frequency is the number of spot corrosions per 1cm² of the alloy surface,
determined by the salt water spray test for 50 hours in accordance with JIS Z 2371.


According to Table 8 through Table 10, Fe-Ni alloy sheets of materials No. 1 through
No. 13 satisfied the conditions specified by the present invention, which conditions
include the degree of planes, {111}, {100}, {110}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {211},
the average austenite grain size, Dav, the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin,
the Vickers hardness, Hv, and the condition of

. All of those Fe-Ni alloy sheets gave an excellent press-formability without giving
partial color-phase shift.
Also the Fe-Ni-Co alloy sheets of materials No. 14 through No. 17 satisfied the conditions
specified by the present invention. All of those Fe-Ni-Co alloy sheets gave an excellent
press-formability without giving partial color-phase shift.
Alloy sheets of materials No. 13 and No. 14 were subjected to annealing before press-forming
before the etching. Even under the processing, those alloy sheets obtained the optimum
functions as the shadow mask.
All of those alloy sheets of materials No. 1 through No. 17 clearly had superior characteristics
to those of the Comparative materials which will be described below.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 18 contained Si larger than the upper
limit of the present invention, 0.2wt.%. The alloy sheet of Comparative material No.
20 contained N more than the upper limit of the present invention, 0.003wt.%. Both
alloy sheets raised a problem of fitness with dies during press-forming.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 19 contained O more than the upper limit
of the present invention, 0.004wt.%. The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 23
contained Sb more than the upper limit of the present invention, 0.05wt.%. Both alloy
sheets gave the average austenite grain size, Dav, before the annealing before press-forming
less than the lower limit of the present invention, 10.5µm, gave a poor shape fix
ability at press-forming, and generated cracks on the sheet surface.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 19 also gave the degree of austenite mixed
grain, Dmax/Dmin, more than the upper limit of the present invention, 15, so it induced
blurred periphery of pierced hole.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 20 contained Co less than the lower limit
of the present invention, 0.001wt.%, so the corrosion resistance was significantly
inferior to the Examples of the present invention.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 21 contained B more than the upper limit
of the present invention, 0.005wt.%, so the average austenite grain size, Dav, before
the annealing before press-forming was less than the lower limit of the present invention,
10.5µm, and the shape fix ability was poor, and generated cracks on the sheet surface.
The alloy sheet of material No. 21 had the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin,
more than the upper limit of the present invention, 15, so the blurred periphery of
pierced hole occurred.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 22 was produced by the process (7) given
below without employing hot-rolled annealing. The process employed is the same as
disclosed in the Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 3-267320 which was described
before.
(7) primary cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 92.5% - recrystallization annealing
at 850°C for 60sec. - finish cold-rolling at the reduction ratio of 15% - stress relief
annealing at 530°C for 30sec.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 22 gave the degree of {100} plane above
the upper limit of the present invention, 75%, and gave the degree of {110} plane
below the lower limit of the present invention, 5%, and further gave the degree of
austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, above the upper limit of the present invention,
15.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 24 was subjected to recrystallization
annealing at 950°C for 180sec. after the primary cold-rolling and the secondary cold-rolling.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 25 was subjected to recrystallization
annealing at 800°C for 30sec. after the primary cold-rolling and the secondary cold-rolling.
The alloy sheet of material No. 24 gave the average austenite grain size, Dav, before
the annealing before press-forming more than the upper limit of the present invention,
15µm, and the alloy sheet of material No. 25 gave the value less than the lower limit
of this invention, 10.5µm. Both alloy sheets showed poor shape fix ability at press-forming.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 26 was produced by the process employed
for the preparation of the alloy sheet of No. 22. The alloy sheet gave the degree
of {100} plane more than the upper limit of the present invention, 75%, gave the degree
of {110} plane less than the lower limit of the present invention, 5%, and gave the
degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, more than the upper limit of the present
invention, 15. As a result, the alloy sheet generated blurred periphery of pierced
hole. Consequently, even an alloy sheet which satisfies the specification of composition
of the present invention, it can not give an excellent press-formability if it does
not satisfy the conditions of the present invention on the degree of each plane and
on the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin.
The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 27 gave the Vickers hardness, Hv, more
than the upper limit of the present invention, 220. The alloy sheet of Comparative
material No. 28 gave the Vickers hardness, Hv, less than the lower limit of the present
invention, 165. The alloy sheet of Comparative material No. 29 gave the Vickers hardness,
Hv, more than the value of

specified by the present invention. The alloy sheet of Comparative material No.
30 gave the Vickers hardness, Hv, less than the value of

specified by the present invention. As a result, all of these alloy sheets gave
poor shape fix ability.
The alloy sheets of Comparative materials No. 31 through No. 34 were produced by the
process which was employed to prepare the alloy sheets of materials No. 1 through
No. 21 without applying annealing of hot-rolled sheet. The alloy sheet of material
No. 31 gave the degree of {110} plane more than the upper limit of the present invention,
40%, nd gave the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, more than the upper limit
of the present invention, 15, so the sheet generated blurred periphery of pierced
hole. The alloy sheet of material No. 32 gave the degree of {111} plane more than
the upper limit of the present invention, 14%, and gave the degree of {311} plane
more than the upper limit of the present invention, 20%, so the sheet induced partial
color-phase shift. The alloy sheet of material No. 33 gave the degree of {211} plane
more than the upper limit of the present invention, 20%, so the sheet generated cracks
on the sheet surface. The alloy sheet of material No. 34 gave the degree of {331}
plane and {210} plane more than the upper limit of the present invention, 20%, so
the sheet induced partial color-phase shift.
[0103] As described in detail above, an alloy sheet for shadow mask having excellent press-formability
and screen quality is obtained by producing an alloy sheet which satisfies the conditions
specified in the present invention, which conditions include the composition of the
alloy, the gathering degree of each plane of the alloy sheet before annealing before
press-forming, the average austenite grain size, Dav, before the annealing before
press-forming, the degree of austenite mixed grain, Dmax/Dmin, the Vickers hardness,
Hv, and the relation of

.
[0104] The present invention provides an alloy sheet for shadow mask which has excellent
shape fix ability during press-forming, shows good fitness with dies, suppresses crack
generation on the material, induces no blurted periphery of pierced hole, is free
from color-phase shift, and has corrosion resistance.
[0105] The above described alloy sheets of the present invention offer favorable etching
quality and press-formability even they are subjected to the annealing before press-forming
before the etching. Accordingly, the present invention provides an additional advantage
for the manufacturer of cathode ray tubes to eliminate the annealing before press-forming
if the supplier of the alloy sheets carries out the annealing before press-forming
in advance.
1. An alloy sheet consisting essentially of 34 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.07wt.% or less Si, 0.001wt.%
or less B, 0.003wt.% or less O, 0.002wt.% or less N, and the balance being Fe and
inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to the minimum size
of austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220
and satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degree of crystal planes on said alloy sheet
surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
2. The alloy sheet of Claim 1, wherein said Ni content is 35 to 37wt.%.
3. The alloy sheet of Claim 2, wherein said Ni content is 35.5 to 36.5wt.%.
4. The alloy sheet of Claim 1, wherein said O content is 0.0001 to 0.003wt.%.
5. The alloy sheet of Claim 1, wherein said B content is 0.0002wt.% or less.
6. The alloy sheet of Claim 1, wherein said Si content is 0.001 to 0.07wt.%.
7. The alloy sheet of Claim 1, wherein said N content is 0.0001 to 0.002wt.%.
8. The alloy sheet of Claim 1, wherein said ratio of the maximum size to the minimum
size of austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) is 1 to 10.
9. The alloy sheet of Claim 1, wherein said gathering degree of {100} plane is 8 to 46.
10. An alloy sheet consisting essentially of 34 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.07wt.% or less Si, 1wt.%
or less Co, 0.001wt.% or less B, 0.003wt.% or less O, 0.002wt.% or less N, and the
balance being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of
austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 5, a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220 and
satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degree of crystal plane on said alloy sheet surface
of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
11. The alloy sheet of Claim 10, wherein said Ni content is 35 to 37wt.%.
12. The alloy sheet of Claim 11, wherein said Ni content is 35.5 to 36.5wt.%.
13. The alloy sheet of Claim 10, wherein said O content is 0.0001 to 0.003wt.%.
14. The alloy sheet of Claim 10, wherein said B content is 0.0002wt.% or less.
15. The alloy sheet of Claim 10, wherein said Si content is 0.001 to 0.07wt.%.
16. The alloy sheet of Claim 10, wherein said N content is 0.0001 to 0.002wt.%.
17. The alloy sheet of Claim 10, wherein said ratio of the maximum size to the minimum
size of austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) is 1 to 10.
18. The alloy sheet of Claim 10, wherein said degree of {100} plane is 8 to 46.
19. An alloy sheet consisting essentially of 28 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.07wt.% or less Si, over
1wt.% to 7wt.% Co, 0.001wt.% or less B, 0.003wt.% or less O, 0.002wt.% or less N,
and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of
austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, and a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220
and satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degrees of crystal planes on said alloy sheet
surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
20. The alloy sheet of Claim 19, wherein said Ni content is 30 to 33wt.% and said Co content
is 3 to 6wt.%.
21. The alloy sheet of Claim 19, wherein said O content Is 0.0001 to 0.003wt.%.
22. The alloy sheet of Claim 19, wherein said B content Is 0.0002wt.% or less.
23. The alloy sheet of Claim 19, wherein said Si content is 0.001 to 0.07wt.%.
24. The alloy sheet of Claim 19, wherein said N content is 0.0001 to 0.002wt.%.
25. The alloy sheet of Claim 19, wherein said ratio of the maximum size to the minimum
size of austenite grains, Dmax/Dmin, is 1 to 10.
26. The alloy sheet of Claim 19, wherein the gathering degree of {100} plane is 8 to 46.
27. An alloy sheet consisting essentially of 34 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.01 to 3wt.% Cr, 0.2wt.%
or less Si, 0.005wt.% or less B, 0.004wt.% or less O, 0.003wt.% or less N, 0.05wt.%
or less Sb, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of
austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, and a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220
and satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degrees of crystal planes on said alloy sheet
surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
28. The alloy sheet of Claim 27, wherein said Ni content is 35.5 to 37wt.%.
29. The alloy sheet of Claim 28, wherein said Ni content is 35.5 to 36.5wt.%.
30. The alloy sheet of Claim 27, wherein said O content is 0.0001 to 0.004wt.%.
31. The alloy sheet of Claim 27, wherein said B content is 0.001wt.% or less.
32. The alloy sheet of Claim 27, wherein said Si content is 0.001 to 0.2wt.%.
33. The alloy sheet of Claim 27, wherein said N content is 0.0001 to 0.003wt.%.
34. The alloy sheet of Claim 27, wherein said ratio of the maximum size to the minimum
size of austenite grains, Dmax/Dmin, is 1 to 10.
35. The alloy sheet of Claim 27, wherein said degree of {100} plane is 8 to 46.
36. An alloy sheet consisting essentially of 34 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.01 to 3wt.% Cr, 1wt.%
or less Co, 0.2wt.% or less Si, 0.005wt.% or less B, 0.004wt.% or less O, 0.003wt.%
or less N, 0.05wt.% or less Sb, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of
austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, and a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220
and satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degrees of crystal planes on said alloy sheet
surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
37. The alloy sheet of Claim 36, wherein said Ni content is 35.5 to 37wt.%.
38. The alloy sheet of Claim 37, wherein said Ni content is 35.5 to 36.5wt.%.
39. The alloy sheet of Claim 36, wherein said O content is 0.0001 to 0.004wt.%.
40. The alloy sheet of Claim 36, wherein said B content is 0.001wt.% or less.
41. The alloy sheet of Claim 36, wherein said Si content is 0.001 to 0.2wt.%.
42. The alloy sheet of Claim 36, wherein said N content is 0.0001 to 0.003wt.%.
43. The alloy sheet of Claim 36, wherein said ratio of the maximum size to the minimum
size of austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) is 1 to 10.
44. The alloy sheet of Claim 36, wherein said gathering degree of {100} plane is 8 to
46.
45. A alloy sheet consisting essentially of 28 to 38wt.% Ni, 0.01 to 3wt.% Cr, over 1wt.%
to 7wt.% Co, 0.2wt.% or less Si, 0.005wt.% or less B, 0.004wt.% or less O, 0.003wt.%
or less N, 0.05wt.% or less Sb, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities;
said alloy sheet before annealing before press-forming having an average austenite
grain size (Dav) of 10.5 to 15.0µm, a ratio of a maximum size to a minimum size of
austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) of 1 to 15, and a Vickers hardness (Hv) of 165 to 220
and satisfying a relation of
said alloy sheet having gathering degrees of crystal planes on said alloy sheet
surface of
14% or less for {111} plane,
5 to 75% for {100} plane,
5 to 40% for {110} plane,
20% or less for {311} plane,
20% or less for {331} plane,
20% or less for {210} plane, and
20% or less for {211} plane.
46. The alloy sheet of Claim 45, wherein said Ni content is 30 to 33wt.% and said Co content
is 3 to 6wt.%.
47. The alloy sheet of Claim 45, wherein said O content is 0.0001 to 0.004wt.%.
48. The alloy sheet of Claim 45, wherein said B content Is 0.001wt.% or less.
49. The alloy sheet of Claim 45, wherein said Si content is 0.001 to 0.2wt.%.
50. The alloy sheet of Claim 45, wherein said N content is 0.0001 to 0.003wt.%.
51. The alloy sheet of Claim 45, wherein said ratio of the maximum size to the minimum
size of austenite grains (Dmax/Dmin) is 1 to 10.
52. The alloy sheet of Claim 45, wherein said gathering degree of {100} plane is 8 to
46.
53. The use of an alloy sheet according to any of the preceding claims for the making
of a shadow mask.