Abstract: In a component made of press-form-hardened, aluminium-based coated steel sheet, the coating has a covering which contains aluminum and silicon applied in the hot-dip process. The press-form-hardened component in the transition region between steel sheet and covering has an inter-diffusion zone I, wherein, depending on the layer application of the covering before heating and press hardening, the thickness of the inter-diffusion zone I obeys the following formula: I [?m]<(1/35)×application on both sides [g/m2]+(19/7). Formed on the inter-diffusion zone I is a zone having various intermetallic phases having an average total thickness between 8 and 50 ?m, on which zone there is in turn arranged a covering layer containing aluminum oxide and/or hydroxide having an average thickness of at least 0.05 ?m to at most 5 ?m.

Abstract: A method for hot forming a steel component is provided. The steel component is heated into a range of complete or partial austenitization in a heat treatment step. The heated steel component is both hot-formed and quench-hardened in a forming step. A first pretreatment step precedes the heat treatment step in terms of process, in which first pretreatment step the steel component is provided with a corrosion-resistant protective layer in order to protect against scaling in the heat treatment step. Before the heat treatment step is performed, a surface oxidation process occurs in a second pre-treatment step, in which a weakly reactive, corrosion-resistant oxidation layer is formed on the scale protection layer by means of which oxidation layer abrasive tool wear is reduced in the forming step.

Abstract: In an aluminium-based coating for steel sheets or steel strips, the coating includes an aluminium-based coat applied in a hot-dip coating method, a covering layer containing aluminium oxide and/or hydroxide being arranged on the coat. The covering layer is produced by plasma oxidation and/or hot water treatment at temperatures of at least 90° C., advantageously at least 95° C., and/or steam treatment at temperatures of at least 90° C., advantageously at least 95° C. Alternatively, the covering layer containing aluminium oxide and/or hydroxide can be produced by anodic oxidation, the coat being produced in a molten bath with a Si content of between 8 and 12 wt. %, and an Fe content of between 1 and 4 wt. %, the remainder being aluminium.

Abstract: A welding device for joining components by resistance welding includes a pair of electrodes which can introduce an electrode force and an electrical welding current IS1 into the components, at least one further pair of electrodes which can introduce an electrode force and a further electrical welding current IS2 into the components, a power source which can generate the electrode forces, a coupling link which is mechanically connected between the power source and the pairs of electrodes and which can divide a total electrode force that can be generated by the power source into the electrode force and the further electrode force.

Abstract: A method for hot forming a steel component is provided. The steel component is heated into a range of complete or partial austenitization in a heat treatment step. The heated steel component is both hot-formed and quench-hardened in a forming step. A first pretreatment step precedes the heat treatment step in terms of process, in which first pretreatment step the steel component is provided with a corrosion-resistant protective layer in order to protect against scaling in the heat treatment step. Before the heat treatment step is performed, a surface oxidation process occurs in a second pre-treatment step, in which a weakly reactive, corrosion-resistant oxidation layer is formed on the scale protection layer by means of which oxidation layer abrasive tool wear is reduced in the forming step.

Abstract: A welding device (1) for joining components by means of resistance welding is proposed, comprising:—a pair of electrodes (15), by means of which an electrode force (21) and an electrical welding current IS1 can be introduced into the components,—at least one further pair of electrodes (17), by means of which an electrode force (23) and a further electrical welding current IS2 can be introduced into the components,—a power source (19), by means of which the electrode forces (21, 23) can be generated,—a coupling link (35), which is mechanically connected between the power source (19) and the pairs of electrodes (15, 17) and by means of which a total electrode force (27) that can be generated by the power source (19) can be divided into the electrode force (21) and the further electrode force (23).