Abstract: An automotive component is produced by hot forming and press hardening a hardenable steel alloy having a tensile strength of at least 1700 MPa. The hardenable steel alloy, in addition to a balance made up of iron and melting-related impurities, has the following alloy elements carbon, niobium, and titanium. The automotive component is coated by a thermal coating process.

Abstract: A hot-formed metal sheet has a tensile strength Rm>1300 megapascal (MPa) and includes an opening which is produced by high-speed punching at a speed of a punch of more than 6 m/s in the absence of a counter holder of a contour matching a contour of the punch, with a smooth cut proportion of the cutting surface of the opening amounting to more than 50%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet-metal formed component and a method or producing the sheet-metal formed component, produced by hot-working and press-quenching from a quenchable, unitary and materially uniform steel alloy, wherein the sheet-metal formed component has multiple superposed martensite layers, wherein a respectively outer martensite layer of the sheet-metal formed component has higher ductility than an underlying martensite layer.

Abstract: An automotive component is produced by hot forming and press hardening a hardenable steel alloy having a tensile strength of at least 1700 MPa. The hardenable steel alloy, in addition to a balance made up of iron and melting-related impurities, has the following alloy elements carbon, niobium, and titanium. The automotive component is coated by a thermal coating process.

Abstract: A heat treatment furnace and a method for heat treatment of a steel sheet blank is disclosed having at least one furnace chamber and a transport system for conveying the steel sheet blanks through the furnace chamber. A preheating chamber, a metallurgical bonding path and a cooling chamber, wherein the steel sheet blank can be heated in the preheating chamber to a temperature of above 200° C. A method for the production of a hot-formed and press-quenched motor-vehicle part is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a motor vehicle component and to a motor vehicle component. Said motor vehicle component is produced by means of hot forming and press hardening. A blank is heated in a continuous furnace with supply of nitrogen. This produces a skin-decarburized layer on the blank that achieves ductility in a motor vehicle component produced with ultrahigh strength.

Abstract: A hot-formed metal sheet has a tensile strength Rm>1300 megapascal (MPa) and includes an opening which is produced by high-speed punching at a speed of a punch of more than 6 m/s in the absence of a counter holder of a contour matching a contour of the punch, with a smooth cut proportion of the cutting surface of the opening amounting to more than 50%.

Abstract: A heat treatment furnace and a method for heat treatment of a steel sheet blank is disclosed having at least one furnace chamber and a transport system for conveying the steel sheet blanks through the furnace chamber. A preheating chamber, a metallurgical bonding path and a cooling chamber, wherein the steel sheet blank can be heated in the preheating chamber to a temperature of above 200° C. A method for the production of a hot-formed and press-quenched motor-vehicle part is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pre-coated plate of steel is heated in a furnace to form an intermetallic alloying layer on the plate at least in an area thereof. Air is pretreated through drying to produce dried air which is fed into the furnace to control the atmosphere within the furnace while the pre-coated plate is in the furnace.

Abstract: The present invention, among other things, relates to a method for producing a workpiece by press hardening a semi-finished product, which is distinguished by the fact that the semi-finished product consists of a steel which has a high content of silicon of at least 0.9 wt. %, with a simultaneously small content of manganese of less than 0.9 wt. %, a small carbon content of less than 0.25 wt. %, and a high chromium content of more than 1.20 wt. %, and which by heating is brought to a state in which the structure of the steel that is used is at least partially transformed to austenite, also optionally fully transformed to austenite, and the thus-heated semi-finished product is hot shaped so that after the hot deformation shaping, a structure is present in the workpiece that has a complex phase structure with predominantly martensite and ferrite fractions. In addition, a workpiece is described, which is produced according to this method, as well as uses of such a workpiece.

Abstract: A steel grade for use in a hot forming and press hardening process has the following composition, in weight percent: C 0.15%=C<0.35%, Mn 0.8-2.5%, Si 1.5-2.5%, Cr max. 0.4%, Al max. 0.1%, Ni max. 0.3%, B 0.0008-0.005%, Ti 0.005-0.1%, Nb max. 0.1%, remainder iron and unavoidable impurities as well as a hot formed and press hardened structural part made of this steel grade.

Abstract: The present invention, among other things, relates to a method for producing a workpiece by press hardening a semi-finished product, which is distinguished by the fact that the semi-finished product consists of a steel which has a high content of silicon of at least 0.9 wt. %, with a simultaneously small content of manganese of less than 0.9 wt. %, a small carbon content of less than 0.25 wt. %, and a high chromium content of more than 1.20 wt. %, and which by heating is brought to a state in which the structure of the steel that is used is at least partially transformed to austenite, also optionally fully transformed to austenite, and the thus-heated semi-finished product is hot shaped so that after the hot deformation shaping, a structure is present in the workpiece that has a complex phase structure with predominantly martensite and ferrite fractions. In addition, a workpiece is described, which is produced according to this method, as well as uses of such a workpiece.