The Development of High Strength Hot Rolled Steel for Automotive Applications

Abstract

The development of high strength hot rolled steels is an important area for improving vehicle fuel efficiency. In collaboration with ArcelorMittal, this project focussed on developing a hot rolled steel with 980 MPa ultimate tensile strength, 800 MPa yield strength and 50% hole expansion ratio. To achieve the target mechanical properties, four different chemistries were trialled which varied the carbon, niobium and vanadium contents. Six combinations of finishing, coiling and intermediate temperatures were trialled for each chemistry. The effects of thermomechanical processing parameters and alloying contents on the mechanical properties were determined through tensile and hole expansion testing. Microstructural analysis was completed to correlate the mechanical properties to the microstructural characteristics. Microscopy techniques performed included optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography. The phase transformations which occur during thermomechanical processing were investigated using dilatometry testing. Microstructural characterization was used to determine the breakdown of strengthening contributions from intrinsic, solid solution, grain boundary, precipitation and dislocation strengthening. Trials varying the processing parameters and steel chemistry led to an understanding of how thermomechanical processing and alloying influence the microstructural features and corresponding mechanical properties in hot rolled microalloyed steels.