Abstract: A method for producing a sheet metal product (1) from a sheet metal preliminary product (2) is proposed, wherein at least one surface (7) of the sheet metal preliminary product (2) is coated with a coating, wherein the sheet metal preliminary product (2) is rolled, wherein depressions (6) are rolled into the surface (7) during the rolling operation, wherein after the coating and rolling operations lubricant (8.1) is introduced into the depressions (6), wherein after the introduction of lubricant (8.1) the sheet metal preliminary product (2) is mechanically formed by a forming tool (5), characterized in that the surface (7) is coated in such a way that, in the forming tool (5) during the forming process, in particular under relative movement between sheet metal surface and tool surface, the coating is elastically deformable under loads of 0.5 MPa to 20 MPa and plastically deformable under loads of above 20 MPa.

Abstract: A method for producing a component made of a steel product coated with an Al—Si protective coating, includes: providing a substrate consisting of a steel produced coated with an Al—Si protective coating, heating the substrate to a temperature T1 such that the Al—Si protective coating is only partially pre-alloyed with Fe of the steel product, cooling the pre-alloyed substrate to room temperature, applying a corrosion protection oil to the surface of the pre-alloyed substrate, wherein the oil consists of a composition containing fatty acid ester, transporting the pre-alloyed substrate to which the oil has been applied, heating the pre-alloyed substrate to which the oil has been applied to a temperature T2 such that the Al—Si protective coating is fully alloyed with Fe of the steel product and the oil is removed without leaving residue, and shaping the re-heated substrate to form the component.

Abstract: A method for producing a semifinished product with locally different material thicknesses may involve preparing a multilayer, metal material composite, which has a plurality of layers with different ductilities, and rolling the material composite in a method for flexible rolling through a rolling gap formed between two rollers. The rolling gap may be configured such that regions with different material thicknesses are formed. In some cases, the multilayer, metal material composite is rolled at room temperature. Further, the plurality of layers of the multilayer, metal material composite may include a first outer layer disposed on a first side of a middle layer and a second outer layer disposed on a second side of the middle layer, with the second side of the middle layer being opposite the first side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a component having improved elongation at break properties, in which a component is firstly produced, preferably in a hot forming or press curing process, and the component is heat treated after hot forming and/or press curing, where the heat treatment temperature T and the heat treatment time t essentially satisfy the numerical relationship T?900·t?0.087, where the heat treatment temperature T is in ° C. and the heat treatment time t is in seconds. The invention also relates to a component, in particular an automobile body component or the chassis of a motor vehicle, which has been produced by such a process. The invention further relates to the use of such a component as part of an automobile body or a chassis of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A hot-forming apparatus may be used to produce a press-hardened shaped component from a blank. The hot-forming apparatus may include a furnace for heating the blank and a pressing device for forming and cooling the blank heated in the furnace. The hot-forming apparatus also includes, upstream of the furnace, a preheating roll truing device with a temperature-controllable roller for straightening and preheating the blank. A corresponding method may be used to produce the press-hardened shaped component from the blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for hot forming semi-finished products of steel, in which the semi-finished product is heated to the forming temperature, is conveyed to the forming tool, and in the forming tool is hot formed, hardened or press hardened. The object of proposing a method for hot-forming semi-finished products of steel, in which also extremely thin-walled blanks may be conveyed at the forming temperature without issues and be fed to the forming tool properly and without limiting the degree of forming of the semi-finished product, is achieved in that prior to hot forming, hardening or press hardening, at least one structure which increases rigidity at least is incorporated in the semi-finished product, and the structure which increases rigidity of the semi-finished product is at least partially or completely disposed in the trimming region of the semi-finished product.

Abstract: A tool may be used to shape and/or partially press harden a workpiece. In some examples, the tool may comprise a main body having a surface, as well as a heat conducting system containing a thermal medium. The heat conducting system is integrated in the tool in such a way that, for the heating of the surface, a heat radiating from a heat source is conducted by means of the heat conducting system to the surface of the main body. Further, the heat conducting system may comprise a thermal oil or a melt as the thermal medium. The surface of the main body may be configured to face the workpiece during the shaping or partial press hardening of the workpiece.

Abstract: Methods for using a mold to partially harden semifinished products, which are comprised of hardenable steel and have at least partially an open-profile or closed-profile cross section, may involve a number of steps. For example, such methods may involve heating regions of a semifinished product above an AC1 temperature, positioning the semifinished producing in a mold, positioning an active mold cooling element adjacent to or in contact with the heated regions of the semifinished product, and cooling the regions of the semifinished product at a defined cooling rate so that a hardened microstructure in the cooled regions. These methods and corresponding devices provide low cost solutions that dispense with complete hardening of semifinished products and/or employing welded connections to provide various mechanical properties.

Abstract: A method for producing a component made of a steel product coated with an Al—Si protective coating, includes: providing a substrate consisting of a steel produced coated with an Al—Si protective coating, heating the substrate to a temperature T1 such that the Al—Si protective coating is only partially pre-alloyed with Fe of the steel product, cooling the pre-alloyed substrate to room temperature, applying a corrosion protection oil to the surface of the pre-alloyed substrate, wherein the oil consists of a composition containing fatty acid ester, transporting the pre-alloyed substrate to which the oil has been applied, heating the pre-alloyed substrate to which the oil has been applied to a temperature T2 such that the Al—Si protective coating is fully alloyed with Fe of the steel product and the oil is removed without leaving residue, and shaping the re-heated substrate to form the component.

Abstract: A steel component formed from a flat steel having a yield point of 150-1100 MPa and a tensile strength of 300-1200 MPa and coated with an anticorrosion coating of an alloy that includes 35-70% by weight aluminum, 35-60% by weight zinc, 0.1-10% by weight magnesium, up to 10% by weight Si, and up to 5% by weight Fe. A blank obtained from the flat steel product is heated to at least 800° C. and formed into the steel component. Alternatively, the steel component may be formed into the steel component first and then heated to at least 800° C. Regardless, the steel component may then be hardened by sufficiently rapid cooling the steel component from a sufficiently high temperature.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for hardening a component or any semi-finished product formed from a steel workpiece that has been shaped in a shaping tool may involve introducing the component into a receiving region of a hardening tool. The hardening tool may then be closed around the component in a form-fitting manner so as to surround the component and maintain a substantially constant distance between the component and at least one induction coil integrated into the hardening tool. The induction coil of the hardening tool may then be used to heat the component. The component may then be cooled within the receiving region or by removing the component from the receiving region and exposing the component to air external to the receiving region.

Abstract: A method for producing a profile includes method steps of: providing a workpiece; shaping the workpiece; joining the workpiece; coating the workpiece; heating the workpiece; and at least partially hardening the workpiece; wherein the coating method step is carried out temporally after the joining method step and temporally before the heating method step.

Abstract: A method for hot forming, in particular for press hardening, a component is disclosed, wherein in a local region of the component a reduced martensitic hardness is produced by locally reducing a forming pressure which is exerted on a surface of the component.

Abstract: A method of producing a component for a vehicle may involve providing a workpiece comprised of a heat-treatable steel material with a zinc-containing coating on both sides, at least partly heating the workpiece to a temperature above Ac1, inserting the at least partly heated workpiece into a hot-forming and/or press-hardening mold comprising at least one punch and at least one die, and closing the mold by relative movement of the punch and/or the die and hot-forming and/or press-hardening the workpiece. At least a region of the heated workpiece may be cooled in the closed mold such that there is at least partial formation of a hardened microstructure. The workpiece may have a first side with a smaller coating thickness of the zinc-containing coating compared to the second side of the workpiece.

Abstract: A steel workpiece may have an edge region and a core region. The object of specifying a steel workpiece wherein a maximum near-surface strength and nevertheless favorable surface properties are achieved, especially favorable scaling characteristics during hot rolling, is achieved in that the steel workpiece may be softer in the edge region than in the core region, and in that a sum total of alloy constituents C, Si, Mn, Cr, and N of the steel workpiece overall is greater than 1.45% by weight. And in some examples the sum total of the alloy constituents C, Si, Mn, Cr, and N of the steel workpiece is less than 4.5% by weight.

Abstract: A method for producing a semifinished material for the production of metallic components having regions of different strength may involve, in a first step, providing thermal energy to a first region of the semifinished material that is uncoated such that the first region is heated and a material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into austenite. Meanwhile, thermal energy may prevented from being supplied to a second region of the semifinished material. In a second step following the first step, the first region may be cooled such that the material structure in the first region is converted at least partially into martensite.

Abstract: A method for producing a semifinished product with locally different material thicknesses may involve preparing a multilayer, metal material composite, which has a plurality of layers with different ductilities, and rolling the material composite in a method for flexible rolling through a rolling gap formed between two rollers. The rolling gap may be configured such that regions with different material thicknesses are formed. In some cases, the multilayer, metal material composite is rolled at room temperature. Further, the plurality of layers of the multilayer, metal material composite may include a first outer layer disposed on a first side of a middle layer and a second outer layer disposed on a second side of the middle layer, with the second side of the middle layer being opposite the first side.

Abstract: Methods for producing steel components with well-adhering metallic coatings that provide protection from corrosion offer flexibility in processing qualities. In one example, a flat steel product comprising a steel material that is hardenable by quenching in a hot forming operation and that has a yield point of 150-1100 MPa and a tensile strength of 300-1200 MPa may be coated electrolytically with a thin zinc layer. From the flat steel product, a blank may then be obtained that is heated directly to at least 800° C. and then formed into the steel component. Alternatively, the blank may initially be formed into the steel component and then heated to at least 800° C. Either way, the steel component may then be hardened by sufficiently rapid cooling from a sufficiently high temperature.

Abstract: A hardening tool is disclosed for producing hardened profiled shaped articles from a sheet steel material, which hardening tool has at least two tool parts which are movable relative to one another and between which a heated sheet steel material which has been preformed into a profiled shaped article and is optionally finally formed and is cooled in a hardening process, wherein the hardening tool has a mold core which, during the hardening process, is arranged in a recess of the profiled shaped article, and wherein the mold core has at least one outlet opening for the pressurization of cooling medium from a cooling medium duct on the profiled shaped article.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for producing profiles from metal, a metallic strip material being fed to a shaping-hardening device, in which the strip material is shaped into a profile and is hardened at least in certain regions, portions of the profile that are emerging continuously from the shaping-hardening device being coated with a protective layer. The disclosure also relates to an apparatus for producing profiles from metal, with a shaping-hardening device for shaping a metallic strip material that can be fed to the shaping-hardening device into a profile and for hardening the profile at least in certain regions, and with a coating device, by which portions of the profile that are emerging continuously from the shaping-hardening device can be coated with a protective layer.