The basic aim of this research is to provide a quantitative description of the macro- and micro-structural development, the mechanical strength and the hot ductility of special steels as a function of the solidification structure and process variables (temperature, time, deformation).

The development of a forecasting model will follow a series of laboratory tests carried out on two types of material: 1. Special steels which do not exhibit a transformation (type A) and whose micro- structure after cooling at whatever temperature coincides with the solidification structure; 2. Steels in which the transformation of phase Gamma to Alpha and back, and Delta to Gamma to Alpha and back (type B materials), take place.