Objectives

In automotive lightweight design, the use of advanced and ultra-high strength steel grades is one of the preferred design choices made by car makers, since these materials allow downsizing vehicle structures in a cost effective manner. However, cold forming of these materials still pose some important drawbacks which limit exploiting their full potential. Among these drawbacks, it can be considered high resulting springback, high press forming forces and tool wear, several forming operations needed for complex geometries, significant raw material needed and large scrap produced in trimmed areas.

Hot press forming, as an alternative process to cold forming of these advanced steel grades, will improve these manufacturing drawbacks.

Thus, the main objective of HOTFORM project is the development of two new multiphase hot forming steel grades (Dual Phase and Complex Phase, with tensile strength levels in the range of 1000MPa), and their hot forming process, to manufacture structural relevant automobile components, with improved formability at elevated temperatures, elimination of springback (reduction of 90%) and important reduction of raw material needed and scrap produced after trimming.

The steel making process for the new DP and CP grades will also be defined, in such a way so that the required steel processing annealing stage can be integrated during the hot stamping process. The goal is to achieve a sustainable and energy efficient process and component manufacturing. Complete life cycle assessment will be done, including the new steel making process, the component hot forming and the use phase of the component during the vehicle life time, to evaluate the compliance of the project objectives.