Advanced zn-coated steel development and manufacturing technology for automotive weight reduction and safety enhancement

减轻车辆重量是提高汽车燃油效率从而减少有害排放的最有效手段之一。这可以通过增加使用先进的高强度钢(AHSS)来实现，用于结构部件和阀体关闭件。车辆安全是最重要的，为此，超高强度(UHSS)压力淬火钢(PHS)包括更多与安全相关的部件。UHSS和AHSS在这些关键应用中的使用允许使用更薄的钢板横截面，同时提高乘客的安全。然而，减小板材厚度需要加强防腐保护，以保持结构完整性并满足消费者对耐用性的期望，对此采用连续镀锌(CGL)工艺的锌基涂层是实现这一目标的一种经济有效的手段。该项目将专注于开发下一代AHSS-第三代(3G)AHSS-它们比当前一代AHSS具有更高的合金化程度，但在不牺牲成形性的情况下具有更高的强度。然而，3G AHSS的合金含量较高，要求它们被专门设计为与CGL工艺兼容，以确保实现所需的性能，同时允许形成防腐的锌基涂层；这是CRD的目标之一。此外，当前一代小灵通与锌基涂层在防腐方面不兼容，开发下一代镀锌小灵通也是CRD的主要目标之一。最后但并非最不重要的一点是，用于克服CGL中AHSS处理困难的处理技术可能会导致关键点焊制造过程中的问题。因此，本CRD的最后一个目标是系统地确定AHSS工艺替代方案对点焊过程的影响。该项目将为加拿大汽车和钢铁行业培训10名学生，并将为这两个行业提供一套工具，这些工具可以用来增加他们在要求苛刻的汽车行业的竞争优势。

One of the most effective means of increasing automotive fuel efficiency and, thereby, decreasing harmful emissions is vehicle weight reduction. This can be accomplished by increasing the use of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) for structural components and body closures. Vehicle safety is of paramount importance, for which ultra-high strength (UHSS) press-hardening steels (PHS) are comprising increased proportions of safety-related components. The use of UHSS and AHSS in these critical applications permits the use of thinner sheet steel cross-sections while enhancing passenger safety. However, reducing sheet metal thickness demands enhanced corrosion protection to maintain the structural integrity and meet consumer durability expectations, for which Zn-based coatings applied by the continuous galvanizing (CGL) process is a cost-effective means of achieving this objective. This project will focus on developing the next generation of AHSS - third generation (3G) AHSS - which are more highly alloyed than the present generation of AHSS, but have significantly higher strengths without sacrificing formability. However, the higher alloy contents of 3G AHSS require that they be specifically designed to be compatible with the CGL process to ensure that the desired properties be achieved while allowing for the formation of corrosion protective Zn-based coatings; this is one of the objectives of the CRD. Also, the current generation of PHS are not compatible with Zn-based coatings for corrosion protection and the development of the next generation of Zn-coated PHS is also one of the primary objectives of the CRD. Last, but not least, the processing techniques used to overcome the difficulties of processing AHSS in the CGL can cause problems with the critical spot welding fabrication process. For this reason, the last objective of this CRD is to systematically determine the effect of AHSS processing alternatives on the spot welding process. This project will train ten students for the Canadian automotive and steel industries and will provide the both industries with a set of tools which can be used to increase their competitive advantage in the highly demanding automotive sector.