A consortium consisting of Tata Steel Nederland, Volkswagen Group and several research institutes has announced significant progress in the development of a new galvanized heavy-duty steel specifically designed for automotive emergency structures.
The project, a third-generation hot–pressed galvanized steel with a high-strength coating, high impact resistance and corrosion resistance, and minimization of microcracks (WarP-AHSS), is aimed at improving passenger safety and supporting more sustainable steel production.
Heavy-duty steels used in automotive structures are usually hot-formed at very high temperatures. At such temperatures, the zinc coating on the steel can melt, leading to cracks. For this reason, manufacturers often use aluminum-silicon coated steel. Callanish understands that they can withstand high temperatures, but have less corrosion resistance.
"By developing new high-quality steel grades, we eliminate these limitations," says Radhakanta Rana, metallurgist at Tata Steel Nederland and WarP — AHSS project manager. "By combining ultra-high strength with exceptional malleability during operation, these new steels are able to absorb significantly more impact energy."
For car manufacturers, zinc coating treated at lower temperatures eliminates the need for additional processes such as sandblasting and provides increased corrosion resistance, Tata notes. According to Christina Sunderketter, head of the Volkswagen Group's Sustainability Solutions project, steel not only increases safety, but also simplifies production processes and reduces the cost of manufacturing parts.
WarP — AHSS is funded by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) on behalf of the European Commission. The project will last from 2023 to 2027.
Author: Christian Kel Germany
Kallanish.com
