Application of high strength steels in automotive industry

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to present possibilities for application of the Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) in the automotive industry. Besides, paper analyses their manufacturing processes and properties. Nowadays, there is constant need in the automotive industry to reduce weight of the vehicle in order to lower the gas consumption as well as to increase the ability to carry more weight. This goal can be achieved by using the materials with better mechanical properties or to use materials with lower density, such as aluminium or titanium. The AHSSs were created as a solution to reduce the weight of parts and structures in various transportation industries by increasing the mechanical properties. The AHSS steels are developed in three generation. Each generation has better mechanical properties than the previous. The increase of the steels properties is achieved by implementing the selected heat treatment procedures and precise micro alloying. In this paper authors tried to emphasize the advantages of using the AHSS in automotive industry and that the application of these materials directly results in lowering the structures’ mass and it positively affects energy efficiency, preservation of the environment and lowering the pollution levels.