Abstract: A metallic component includes a core formed of steel. A zinc alloy layer is disposed on the core. The zinc alloy layer is formed of zinc and a very small amount of aluminum, such as 0.14 weight percent or less. A method of creating a component includes providing a steel core, providing a zinc bath consisting of essentially of 0.01 to 0.14 weight percent aluminum, and hot dipping the steel core into the zinc bath to form a zinc coating on the steel core resulting in a zinc-coated steel component. The aluminum may be provided in even lower contents, such as less than 0.08 weight percent, or even less than 0.05 weight percent. The zinc-coated steel component may then be spot welded to another component without first annealing the zinc-coated component. Rather, heat treating is performed locally at the weld joint by the welding procedure alone.

Abstract: A steel composition is provided. The steel composition includes 0.1-0.45 wt. % carbon (C), greater than 0-4.5 wt. % manganese (Mn), 0.5-5 wt. % chromium (Cr), 0.5-2.5 wt. % silicon (Si), greater than 0-2 wt. % copper (Cu), and a balance of iron (Fe). The combined concentration of the Mn, Cr, and Cu is greater than about 2 wt. %. The steel composition is configured to form a surface oxide layer comprising oxides of Cr, Si, and Cu after being subjected to press hardening. Press-hardened steel fabricated from the steel composition and a method of fabricating a press-hardened steel component from the steel composition are also provided.

Abstract: A metallic component includes a core formed of steel. A zinc alloy layer is disposed on the core. The zinc alloy layer is formed of zinc and a very small amount of aluminum, such as 0.14 weight percent or less. A method of creating a component includes providing a steel core, providing a zinc bath consisting of essentially of 0.01 to 0.14 weight percent aluminum, and hot dipping the steel core into the zinc bath to form a zinc coating on the steel core resulting in a zinc-coated steel component. The aluminum may be provided in even lower contents, such as less than 0.08 weight percent, or even less than 0.05 weight percent. The zinc-coated steel component may then be spot welded to another component without first annealing the zinc-coated component. Rather, heat treating is performed locally at the weld joint by the welding procedure alone.

Abstract: A multilayer steel includes a core formed of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel. A decarburized layer is exterior to the core on at least one side thereof. The decarburized layer has reduced carbon content relative to the core. A zinc-based layer is exterior to the decarburized layer. The decarburized layer may have a composition of at least 80 percent ferrite, such that LME is reduced or mitigated. In some configurations, the decarburized layer is between 10-50 microns thick. A method of creating a coated advanced high-strength steel component is also provided. An apparatus for forming a coated advanced high-strength steel is also provided. The core of the multilayer steel may have a carbon weight-percent of less than or equal to 0.4. The decarburized layer of the multilayer steel may have a carbon weight-percent of less than or equal to 50 percent of the carbon weight-percent of the core.

Abstract: An alloy with tailored hardenability includes carbon, silicon, manganese, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, and cobalt. A time and temperature transformation diagram of the alloy has a bainite nose and a ferrite nose that occur at approximately the same time at approximately 4 seconds at temperatures of about 750 K and 950 K, respectively.

Abstract: A multilayer steel includes a core formed of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel. A decarburized layer is exterior to the core on at least one side thereof. The decarburized layer has reduced carbon content relative to the core. A zinc-based layer is exterior to the decarburized layer. The decarburized layer may have a composition of at least 80 percent ferrite, such that LME is reduced or mitigated. In some configurations, the decarburized layer is between 10-50 microns thick. A method of creating a coated advanced high-strength steel component is also provided. An apparatus for forming a coated advanced high-strength steel is also provided. The core of the multilayer steel may have a carbon weight-percent of less than or equal to 0.4. The decarburized layer of the multilayer steel may have a carbon weight-percent of less than or equal to 50 percent of the carbon weight-percent of the core.

Abstract: Disclosed are hot forming systems and apparatuses for metalworking components from micro-alloyed press hardened steel (PHS), methods for operating such systems/apparatuses, processes for hot forming components from micro-alloyed PHS, and components formed from such processes. A method of hot forming components from steel is disclosed. The method includes transferring a workpiece formed from a PHS micro-alloyed with niobium (e.g., 0.02-0.1 wt % Nb) to a furnace, e.g., via material handling robot. The workpiece is then heated to a peak furnace temperature and during a furnace time (e.g., total ramp and soak time) selected from a pentagon having heating time and temperature coordinates of: A (about 2 minutes, about 940° C.), B (about 2 minutes, about 1100° C.), C (about 3.5 minutes, about 1100° C.), D (about 5 minutes, about 975° C.), and E (about 5 minutes, about 940° C.). The heated workpiece is then transferred to a hot forming apparatus.

Abstract: An alloy with tailored hardenability includes carbon, silicon, manganese, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, and cobalt. A time and temperature transformation diagram of the alloy has a bainite nose and a ferrite nose that occur at approximately the same time at approximately 4 seconds at temperatures of about 750 K and 950 K, respectively.