Abstract: A press hardening method includes the following steps providing a carbon steel sheet coated with a barrier pre-coating including nickel and chromium wherein the weight ratio Ni/Cr is between 1.5 and 9, cutting the sheet to obtain a blank, thermal treatment of the blank in an atmosphere having an oxidizing power equal or higher than that of an atmosphere consisting of 1% by volume of oxygen and equal or smaller than that of an atmosphere consisting of 50% by volume of oxygen, such atmosphere having a dew point between ?30 and +30° C., transfer of the blank into a press tool, hot-forming of the blank to obtain a part, cooling of the part to obtain a microstructure in steel being martensitic or martensito-bainitic or made of at least 75 wt. % of equiaxed ferrite, from 5 to 20 wt. % of martensite and bainite in amount less than or equal to 10 wt. %.

Abstract: press hardening method includes the following steps: A. the provision of a steel sheet for heat-treatment, precoated with a zinc- or aluminum-based pre-coating, B. the deposition of a hydrogen barrier pre-coating over a thickness from 10 to 550 nm, and comprising at least one element chosen from among: nickel, chromium, magnesium, aluminum and yttrium, C. batch annealing of the precoated steel sheet to obtain a pre-alloyed steel sheet, the cooling after the batch annealing being performed at a speed of 29.0° C.h?1 or less, D. the cutting of the pre-alloyed steel sheet to obtain blank, E. thermal treatment of the blank to obtain a fully austenitic microstructure in the steel, F. the transfer of the blank into a press tool, G. the hot-forming of the blank to obtain a part, H. the cooling of the part obtained at step G).

Abstract: A press hardening method including: A. provision of a steel sheet for heat treatment, being optionally precoated with a zinc- or aluminum-based pre-coating, B. deposition of a hydrogen barrier pre-coating comprising chromium and not comprising nickel over a thickness from 10 to 550 nm, C. cutting of the precoated steel sheet to obtain a blank, D. heat treatment of the blank at a furnace temperature from 800 to 970° C., during a dwell time from 1 to 12 minutes, in an atmosphere having an oxidizing power equal or higher than that of an atmosphere consisting of 1% by volume of oxygen and equal or smaller than that of an atmosphere consisting of 50% by volume of oxygen, such atmosphere having a dew point between ?30 and +30° C., E. transfer of the blank into a press tool, F. hot-forming at a temperature from 600 to 830° C. to obtain a part, G. cooling of the part obtained at step E).

Abstract: A press hardening method includes the following steps: A. the provision of a steel sheet for heat treatment, precoated with a zinc- or aluminum-based pre-coating for anti-corrosion purpose, B. the deposition of a hydrogen barrier pre-coating over a thickness from 10 to 550 nm, C. the batch annealing of the precoated steel sheet in an inert atmosphere to obtain a pre-alloyed steel sheet, D. the cutting of the pre-alloyed steel sheet to obtain blank, E. the thermal treatment of the blank to obtain a fully austenitic microstructure in the steel, F. the transfer of the blank into a press tool, G. the hot-forming of the blank to obtain a part, H. the cooling of the part obtained at step G).

Abstract: A press hardening method including the following steps: A. the provision of a steel sheet for heat treatment being optionally coated with a zinc- or aluminum-based pre-coating, B. the flexible rolling of the steel sheet in the rolling direction so as to obtain a steel sheet having a variable thickness, C. the cutting of the rolled steel sheet to obtain a tailored rolled blank, D. the deposition of a hydrogen barrier pre-coating over a thickness from 10 to 550 nm, E. the heat treatment of the tailored rolled blank to obtain a fully austenitic microstructure in the steel, F. the transfer of the tailored rolled blank into a press tool, G. the hot-forming of the tailored rolled blank to obtain a part having a variable thickness,H. the cooling of the part having a variable thickness obtained at step G).

Abstract: A press hardening method includes the following steps providing a carbon steel sheet coated with a barrier pre-coating including nickel and chromium wherein the weight ratio Ni/Cr is between 1.5 and 9, cutting the sheet to obtain a blank, thermal treatment of the blank in an atmosphere having an oxidizing power equal or higher than that of an atmosphere consisting of 1% by volume of oxygen and equal or smaller than that of an atmosphere consisting of 50% by volume of oxygen, such atmosphere having a dew point between ?30 and +30° C., transfer of the blank into a press tool, hot-forming of the blank to obtain a part, cooling of the part to obtain a microstructure in steel being martensitic or martensito-bainitic or made of at least 75 wt. % of equiaxed ferrite, from 5 to 20 wt. % of martensite and bainite in amount less than or equal to 10 wt. %.

Abstract: A carbon steel sheet coated with a barrier pre-coating containing nickel and chromium in a weight ratio between 1.5 and 9, and a press hardening method for providing the carbon steel sheet coated with a barrier pre-coating comprising nickel and chromium are described.