Abstract: A zinc-coated steel may be produced by performing a pre-alloying heat treatment after galvannealing the steel and prior to the hot stamping the steel. The pre-alloying heat treatment is conducted at a temperature between about 850° F. and about 950° F. in an open coil annealing process. The pre-alloying heat treatment allows for shorter time at the austenitization temperature to form a desired ?-Fe phase in the coating by increasing the concentration of iron. This also decreases the loss of zinc, and a more adherent oxide exists after hot stamping.

Abstract: A zinc-coated steel may be produced by performing a pre-alloying heat treatment after galvannealing the steel and prior to the hot stamping the steel. The pre-alloying heat treatment is conducted at a temperature between about 850° F. and about 950° F. in an open coil annealing process. The pre-alloying heat treatment allows for shorter time at the austenitization temperature to form a desired ?-Fe phase in the coating by increasing the concentration of iron. This also decreases the loss of zinc, and a more adherent oxide exists after hot stamping.

Abstract: A copper base alloy having an improved combination of yield strength and electrical conductivity consisting essentially of between about 1.0 and about 6.0 weight percent Ni, up to about 3.0 weight percent Co, between about 0.5 and about 2.0 weight percent Si, between about 0.01 and about 0.5 weight percent Mg, up to about 1.0 weight percent Cr, up to about 1.0 weight percent Sn, and up to about 1.0 weight percent Mn, the balance being copper and impurities, the alloy processed to have a yield strength of at least about 137 ksi, and an electrical conductivity of at least about 25% IACS.