Design of Modern Steels for Automotive Application

Abstract

Advanced high-strength steels offer a great potential for the further development of automobile bodies-in-white due to their combined mechanical properties of high formability and strength. New types of grades – multi-phase steels, superductile steels and density reduced steels – are under development at ThyssenKrupp Steel with tensile strength levels of up to 1000 MPa in combination with excellent formability for the high demands of cold formed structural automobile components. New forming technologies at increased temperatures – hot forming, semi-hot forming and superplastic forming - enable the processing of complex parts with extreme high strength. ThyssenKrupp Steel identifies potential future steels and technology concepts by technology monitoring and evaluates their potential for future applications in pre-development projects. University research institutions are significantly involved in this essential future oriented challenge. Seminal concepts are being implemented together with automotive manufactures by simultaneous engineering processes with coordinated phases of production and testing.