Development of high strength hot-rolled steel products for automotive applications

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The steelmaking and the automotive industries are key players in the drive to reduce greenhouse emissions and protect the environment. The development of advanced high strength steels is one of the most promising approaches for reducing vehicle weight and improving fuel efficiency. As steel producers strive to produce these new grades of steels, they are faced with challenges related to mill capability, quality and environmental control, customer needs and cost competitiveness. It is within this complex landscape that this study, undertaken jointly with ArcelorMittalDofasco, will focus on the development, processing and characterization of an Advanced High Strength Steel for underbody automotive application (chassis and wheel frame). The specifications for the final product are quite severe as they require high strength, high toughness and good formability, while being weldable. To meet these requirements, the chemistry and processing conditions of the steel need to be optimized simultaneously and taking into account the specific rolling and cooling capacity of the mill.****The goal of this project is to produce HR980 steel, which is a hot-rolled grade of steel with a tensile strength of 980 MPa. Physically-based modelling will be used to design the steel chemistry and thermomechanical processing schedule. The steels will be cast and hot-rolled at ArcelorMittal's facilities in France. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the new steel will be evaluated in order to arrive at the optimum chemistry and processing route to produce HR980 steel. The grant will train one Post-Doctoral Fellow, one Master's student and one Research Associate in an area of great importance to the Canadian economy.**