The next generation of hot stamping now in series production: thyssenkrupp Steel (TKS) showed AS-Pro coated MBW steels for vehicle construction at EuroBlech.
As a pioneer in hot stamping, thyssenkrupp Steel knows the challenges of the hot stamping process. An answer to the risk of hydrogen-induced cracking in AS-coated manganese-boron steels is provided by AS Pro – a development designed to ensure maximum component safety in vehicles. They are now available in series for all coated MBW steels from 500 to 1,900 megapascals.
Optimize for sustainable and economical processes
Reliable protection against scale is just one of the reasons why hot stamping steels are aluminum-silicon coated. However, hydrogen can penetrate the material during heat treatment. Solving the problem through additional measures such as dew point control are energy and time consuming. The new AS-Pro coating significantly minimizes process-related hydrogen absorption during the annealing process and results in a more economical manufacturing process.
“The hot forming process is taken to a completely new level with MBW AS Pro. This shows that steel is the basis for sustainable and process-reliable component production now and in the future,” says Georg Parma, Product Manager Hot Forming at thyssenkrupp Steel, explaining the key advantages of the product.
Maximum safety with reduced costs
AS Pro is applied to the strip in the same way as a standard AS coating in thyssenkrupp Steel’s modern hot-dip coating lines. The special feature: A specific amount of magnesium is added to the molten bath, which is homogeneously distributed in the melt and coating. AS Pro then develops its effect in the annealing process. The test on series production equipment proves a reduction of the hydrogen content in the component by 40 percent or more after hot forming. In the case of cold-rolled steel, a reduction of up to 70 percent can even be demonstrated.
This is a groundbreaking development for hot stamping. In vehicle construction in particular, hot stamping steels in combination with AS Pro represent a milestone in the production of high-strength weight-optimized and crash-relevant structural components. AS-Pro-coated steels exhibit the same processing properties as the standard product: Whether laser welding, resistance spot welding or even painting, no adjustments are required in the process for any of these processing steps.
The advantages of AS Pro at a glance:
Minimization of process-related hydrogen absorption
Minimization of default risks
Process-reliable component manufacturing
At least comparable processing properties as standard AS
Sustainable cost and energy savings
