End-User Driven Process Design for Steels with Extreme Properties (ExtremeSteels)

Purpose and goal

The purpose of this project has been to develop a new thermomechanical forming process based on Quenching and Partitioning (QP) that would be applied to press forming. New suitable steels needed to be developed. The goal was significantly improved properties compared to conventional steel. The goals have been achieved in terms of yield strength, tensile strength and ductility, but the increased fatigue limit has not been achieved. It remains at about the same level as for the conventional steel in the context that the Q&P material is intended to replace.

Expected results and effects

The project has achieved virtually all objectives. A new thermomechanical forming process based on Quenching and Partitioning (QP) has been developed together with a new suitable steel grade. Appropriate process parameters have been tested, and obtained properties have been significantly improved compared to a conventional manufacturing process. However, the fatigue properties remain at the same level as with the previous conventional manufacturing process. The process is expected to contribute to reduced energy consumption and increased safety in the vehicles of the future.

Planned approach and implementation

The work has been conducted in project form where all participants have contributed with their special abilities. Industry participants have developed new steels, performed experiments, fatigue testing and microstructure analysis. Participating institutes have performed modeling, determined appropriate process parameters and performed analyzes. Strategies for obtaining extreme properties when the material is formed with QP processes have been obtained and established. The project ends with completion of a demonstrator for validation of QP-based manufacturing.