New ultra high strength steel grades for hot stamping
Malek1 Naderi1, 2, Thorsten Labudde1, Vitoon Uthaisangsuk1, Wolfgang Bleck1
Department of Ferrous Metallurgy, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
2
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak
University, Iran
Summary
Many attempts have been focused on producing auto bodies with very light weight.
Hot stamping process is applied to produce ultra high strength steel components.
The state of the art steel grade using in hot stamping is 22MnB5 boron bearing
steel in coated and uncoated conditions. In the present paper, the authors tried to
introduce other steel grades with better material properties than common steel.
The 37MnB4 boron alloyed steel and the TRIP 800 steel grades were chosen.
Laboratory hot stamping process was conducted on these two steel grades and
22MnB5 grade. All the investigated steel grades resulted in fully martensitic
microstructure after hot stamping experiments. It was shown that the TRIP 800
sheets after hot stamping exhibit the same strength levels and better ductility than
22MnB5 grades. In case of 37MnB4 sheets, some tempering treatments at
temperatures of 200°C, 250°C and 300°C and different soaking times of 5, 10, 15,
30, 45 and 60 minutes were performed on hot stamped blanks. The best
combination of ductility and ultra high strength levels were achieved by 37MnB4
sheets after hot stamping and tempering experiments. The yield and tensile
strength of 1600 MPa and 1800 MPa together with 9.4% elongation at fracture (A5)
of 37MnB4 sheets could be obtained after hot stamping and tempering.
Additionally, to optimise the application of this technology and to describe the effect
of process parameters, FE thermomechanical simulations of the hot stamping were
performed. In future, different kinetic hardening models for isothermal and non-
isothermal deformation will be verified by comparison between experimental and
numerical results.
Key words: hot stamping, ultra high strength steels, tempering, 37MnB4, TRIP
800, 22MnB5
1. Introduction
The application of ultra high strength steels in automotive industries has increased
due to the need of higher passive safety and weight reduction. Hot stamping is an
innovative technique to produce ultra high strength steel components like side
impact and bumper beams by using boron steels. Deformation in this process is
carried out at high temperature, in the austenitic region where the material has
FCC structure [1]. The advantages of hot stamping process and using boron
alloyed steels are very high formability during stamping, forming of very complex
geometries without springback, ultra high strength steel parts after process,
material properties independent of forming depth, acceptable dimensional
tolerances, good weldability and well suited for crash applications [2].
The state of the art steel grade for hot stamping is 22MnB5 boron bearing steel in
both coated and uncoated conditions. Several investigations have been performed
154
to study the behaviour and properties of this steel grade in hot stamping conditions
[1], [3-5]. But there are few reports of the ability of other steel grades which can be
treated by hot stamping [1], [6] and [7]. Two complex phases steel grades of CP-W
800 and CP-W 900 in the hot dip galvanized coated sheets were formed by semi-
hot stamping for production of automobile roof frames. It was shown that the
dimensional accuracy of semi-hot stamped parts with the furnace temperature of
600°C of these grades are significantly better than that achieved by cold forming
and aims close to the accuracy of hot formed parts. Nevertheless, the results
exhibited less spring back in the hot stamped parts of 22MnB5 sheets than in the
semi-hot stamped CP-W 800 parts. In addition to the tests with 22MnB5 boron and
CP-W steel grades, several tests were performed on MS-W 1200 grade. This steel
was used in the uncoated condition. The production temperature for the roof frame
was 650°C for semi-hot stamping and 950°C for the hot stamping experiments. It
was concluded that MS-W1200 steel grade resulted in the maximum strength of
1200 MPa [6] and [7].
The corresponding authors investigated different boron bearing steels with different
carbon contents and some dual phase grades with respect to their mechanical
properties after hot stamping. The results and discussions can be found in [1]. In
the present paper, the materials properties of 37MnB4 boron alloyed and TRIP 800
steel grades after hot stamping are compared with the results of the 22MnB5 grade
reported in [5].
2. Experimental
Chemical composition
The investigated materials are industrially produced sheets of 37MnB4 boron
alloyed and TRIP 800 steels with the thicknesses of 3mm and 1mm, respectively.
The chemical compositions of these steel grades are given in Table 1. The
chemical composition of the 22MnB5 grade which were investigated in two
different thicknesses of 1mm and 2.8mm are given for comparison in [5].
Steel Thickness-mm C Si Mn Cr Ni Al Ti B N
22MnB5 1, 2.8 0.23 0.22 1.18 0.16 0.12 0.03 0.040 0.002 0.005
37MnB4 3 0.33 0.31 0.81 0.19 0.02 0.03 0.046 0.001 0.006
TRIP800 1 0.20 1.80 1.50 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.006 0.00 0.005
Table 1: Chemical compositions of the investigated steels, mass%
CCT Diagrams
The CCT diagrams of the investigated steel grades were determined by dilatometry
tests, metallographical investigations and Vickers hardness tests [3].
Austenization treatment
The first step in hot stamping process is austenitization of the blanks. The target of
austenization is producing fully uniform austenite without any remained
undissolved carbides and also secondary phases. To this end, due to the thickness
155
and chemical composition, the optimum time and temperature in the austenite
region must be selected. Considering to the chemical composition and thickness,
two temperatures beyond Ac3 as well as three different soaking times for each
temperature were examined. The austenization treatments were performed in a
non-protected furnace. Then, microstructural investigations and hardness
measurements were carried out. Moreover, for the possible cases, primary
austenite grain sizes were also measured. Finally, the optimum austenization time
and temperature for studied steels was chosen.
Hot stamping tests
Hot stamping is a non-isothermal thermomechanical process, for sheet metals, in
which forming and quenching takes place in one combined process step [5]. In the
hot stamping experiments, corresponding to the steel grades of 37MnB4 and TRIP
800, the blanks in the size of 105×105 mm2 were austenitized at 900°C for 10
minutes and 1000°C for 10 minutes, respectively. After reaching an achieved
homogeneous austenitic microstructure, the hot blanks were transferred as quickly
as possible to the tool and subsequently formed and quenched to the room
temperature. The tool comprises of a water cooled punch and a non-cooled lower
die. More details about tool and hot stamping set up were reported in [5].
Tempering treatment
Tempering is a reasonable method to improve the ductility, although the strength is
deteriorated. Due to the very high strength level and low ductility of the hot
stamped samples of 37MnB4 steel grades, tempering treatments at three different
temperatures of 200°C, 250°C and 300°C were performed for different holding
times of 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. All the tempering treatments were
conducted in a non-protected furnace.
Microstructural investigations
The microstructures of the samples in different conditions of as-delivered, as-hot
stamped and after tempering were considered by light optical (LOM) and scanning
electron microscopy (SEM). The samples were etched by Nital.
Tensile tests
Determination of the mechanical characteristics was carried out using tensile tests
for thin sheet metals as DIN 50114 [8] at room temperature. All tolerances refer to
DIN ISO 2768 [9]. Specimen geometry and the position of taking the samples from
the deformed blanks were illustrated in [5]. The total elongation A5 was determined.
3. Results and discussion
Chemical composition
In any materials processing, the preliminary considerations should be focused on
the chemical composition of the investigated materials. The carbon content of
boron alloyed 22MnB5 and TRIP 800 is almost the same and the 37MnB4 grade
contains higher values. It is well known that carbon has a major effect on the
mechanical properties. Hardness and tensile strength increases as carbon content
increase up to about 0.85 wt%. The higher strength level after any similar
treatment in the 37MnB4 grade is expected.
156
The silicon content of TRIP steel is about five times more than boron alloyed steel
grades. Silicon is added to TRIP steels in the range of 1.5-2.5 wt% to allow the
retention of austenite. Silicon retards the precipitation of cementite. Consequently,
it leaves more carbon available for enrichment and accordingly results in more
stabilized austenite. Silicon, in conjunction with manganese, due to the formation of
manganese-silicon-oxides which deteriorate wettability of the surface by zinc, can
affect the surface’s chemistry of the steel and make hot-dip galvanizing impossible
[10]. Manganese is an austenite stabilizing element and contributes in strength and
hardness, although less than carbon. The increase in strength is dependent on the
carbon content. Increasing the manganese content decreases ductility and
weldability, although less than carbon. However, the manganese content of the
TRIP grade is about two times more than the 37MnB4 grade, as mentioned before,
the carbon content of the 37MnB4 is almost fifty percent more than the TRIP grade.
Accordingly, it is not so easy to have a clear conclusion.
There are about 10 ppm and 20 ppm boron in 37MnB4 and 22MnB5 steel grades
which act as hardenability enhancer. The addition of typically 10-30 ppm boron to
low alloy steels enhances hardenability [11], [12] through segregation of boron to
austenite grain boundaries that delays the nucleation of ferrite [13], [14]. Some
believe that the boron on austenite grain boundaries lowers their surface energy
[15] thereby delaying the nucleation of ferrite [16], [17], whereas other authors [18],
[19] report that Fe23(CB)6 particles on austenite grain boundaries may hinder the
nucleation of ferrite. In other words, the TTT diagram shifts to the right, delaying
austenite decomposition as the precipitates form and act as a precursor for the
formation of pro-eutectoid ferrite. The titanium content of boron alloyed steel
grades is higher than in TRIP 800. Titanium is added to boron alloyed steels to
form titanium nitrates and consequently to avoid boron nitrides formation.
CCT diagrams
The CCT diagrams provide very useful data for thermo-mechanical treatments. The
critical temperatures for austenization treatment as well as critical cooling rates to
have favourite phases can be found out by using CCT diagrams. It is observed in
Figure 1 that the Ac3 temperature of 37MnB4 and TRIP 800 grades are 800°C and
950°C, respectively, however, the Ac1 temperature of both steel grades are the
same, i.e., 740°C. It is well known that the Ac3 temperature decreases by
increasing carbon content and the Ac1 temperature remains unchanged. The Ac3
temperature of TRIP 800, 950°C, is higher than the Ac3 temperature in 22MnB5,
i.e., 870°C, although the carbon contents are almost the same. It is due to the
effect of Si content in TRIP grade which increases this critical temperature.
The martensite start (Ms) temperature is also decreased by increasing carbon
content. It can be seen in the two resulted diagrams that the Ms temperature of
TRIP 800 and 37MnB4 grades are 395°C and 345°C, respectively. The martensite
finish (Mf) temperature of 37MnB4 boron alloyed grade is about 180°C while the Mf
temperature of the TRIP grade might be below room temperature. It would be due
to the effect of Si content which stabilizes austenite and delays fully martensitic
transformation to lower temperatures. The minimum critical cooling rates to have
fully martensitic transformation for the TRIP grade and the boron alloyed grade are
50°C/s and 14°C/s, respectively. These cooling rates were estimated linearly
between austenization temperature and the Mf temperature. Room temperature
was assumed for the Mf temperature of the TRIP grade.
157
Temperature ( °C)
Temperature ( °C)
Time Time
a) b)
Figure 1: CCT diagrams of a) 37MnB4 steel: The samples were austenitized at 900°C for 5 min.
b) TRIP 800: The samples were austenitized at 1000°C for 10 min.
Microstructural investigations
The resulted phase fractions in as-delivered and after hot stamping experiments as
well as tempering treatments are listed in Table 2. It is well known that as the
carbon content is increased, the possibility of pearlite formation is raised. Therefore,
the amount of pearlite in 37MnB4 grade is more than 22MnB5 grade in as-
delivered condition, Figure 2a. The amount of ferrite in TRIP 800 grade is almost
the same as 22MnB5 grade however, the rest is retained austenite, Figure 2b. Due
to the higher strength and hardness of retained austenite than pearlite, the
hardness of TRIP steel in as-delivered conditions is higher than 22MnB5 boron
alloyed grade. It was found that after hot stamping of the investigated steels, the
22MnB5 grade with one millimetre thickness resulted in almost fully martensitic
microstructures, although some bainitic regions could be detected. In comparison,
the TRIP sheets exhibited fully martensitic microstructures with lower hardness
levels. As shown in Figure 3, the morphologies of martensite in these two grades
are not similar and need more investigations by using SEM or TEM techniques.
Both boron alloyed grades of 37MnB4 and 22MnB5 resulted in fully martensitic
microstructures after hot stamping experiments however, due to the higher carbon
content of 37MnB4, the hardness is higher and the morphology of martensite
lathes are different, Figure 3b and 3d. As mentioned, due to very high hardness
and strength levels, the samples of 37MnB4 sheets were tempered at different
soaking times and temperatures after hot stamping. The resulted microstructures
were tempered martensite with different morphologies and clearly different
hardness levels. Light optical microscopy techniques are not very suitable to
investigate these tempered martensites. Some SEM investigations were also
performed, Figure 4. It was observed that the microstructure of 37MnB4 sheets
after hot stamping consists of fully coarse lath martensites. In contrast, the
tempered samples include martensite lathes and dispersed carbides, Figure 4b.
These carbides need more identification by means of TEM. Different hardness
values after tempering can be well interpreted after recognition of the carbides and
their distribution.
158
a) b)
Figure 2: Light optical microscopy images of as-delivered sheets, a) 37MnB4-3mm, b) TRIP 800-1mm.
a) b)
c) d)
Figure 3: Light optical microscopy images after hot stamping, a) 22MnB5-1mm, b) 22MnB5-2.8mm,
c) TRIP 800-1mm and d) 37MnB4-3mm.
a) b)
Figure 4: Scanning electron microscopy images of 37MnB4 boron alloyed grade after different heat
treatments of a) 900°C, 10min. + hot stamping, and b) 900°C, 10min. + hot stamping + tempering at
250°C for 30 min.
159
Mechanical properties
The main objective of the present paper was to study new steel grades due to the
mechanical properties after hot stamping and compare them with the state of the
art grade of 22MnB5. In this regard, two grades of TRIP 800 sheets with one
millimeter thickness and 37MnB4 sheets with three millimeter thickness have been
compared with the 22MnB5 boron alloyed grade in two different thicknesses of one
and 2.8mm, respectively. Mechanical properties of the investigated steels in as-
delivered and after hot stamping as well as tempering treatment are listed in Table
2.
Thick- Microstructure Vickers
Rp0.2 Rm Au A5 Rm
( r 5%)
Steel ness Treatment Hardness
MPa MPa % % ×A5
(mm) (HV10)
As-delivered 410 555 15.2 26.3 14597 78F+22P 170
1
Hot stamped (HS) 1024 1418 2.6 4.6 6523 99M+1B 556
22MnB5
As-delivered 490 650 12.1 26 16900 75F+25P 210
2.8
Hot stamped (HS) 987 1493 3.6 8.8 13138 100M 475
TRIP As-delivered 514 836 22.9 27.8 23241 65F+35RA 312
1
800 Hot stamped (HS) 970 1360 3.1 6.1 8296 100M 525
As-delivered 580 810 10.6 21.7 17577 47F+53P 260
Hot stamped (HS) 1378 2040 2.2 4.4 8976 100M 610
Hot 5min 1311 1960 4.1 8.6 16856 100TM 420
Stamping 10min 1330 1955 2.7 9.4 18377 100TM 490
+ 15min 1400 1970 3.8 8.3 16351 100TM 360
tempering 30min 1595 1850 2.8 9.8 18130 100TM 590
at 45min 1625 1860 3.4 9.2 17112 100TM 560
200°C 60min 1615 1850 3.0 8.0 14800 100TM 540
Hot 5min 1380 2015 4.1 9.6 19344 100TM 390
Stamping 10min 1430 1965 4.0 10.2 20043 100TM 430
37MnB4 3
+ 15min 1570 1960 3.6 10.3 20188 100TM 490
tempering 30min 1605 1820 2.75 9.4 17108 100TM 575
at 45min 1600 1775 2.27 9.5 16863 100TM 545
250°C 60min 1585 1745 2.35 9.1 15880 100TM 545
Hot 5min 1545 1980 4.4 9.7 19206 100TM 550
Stamping 10min 1580 1890 3.2 8.9 16821 100TM 400
+ 15min 1645 1880 3.4 9.0 16920 100TM 405
tempering 30min 1630 1770 2.1 8.6 15222 100TM 490
at 45min 1575 1720 2.12 9.0 15480 100TM 550
300°C. 60min 1510 1670 2.90 9.8 16366 100TM 515
Table 2: Microstructure, hardness and mechanical properties of the investigated steels after different
treatments
It has been seen that, the uniform elongation, A5 values and formability index
(Rm×A5) values of the TRIP steel after hot stamping are better than 22MnB5 steel
grade, although the yield and tensile strength values are about 50 MPa less. It
might be due to the as-delivered microstructure (Ferrite and retained austenite) of
the TRIP steel. To obtain fully uniform austenization of retained austenite is not
easy. It is predicted that producing the same chemical composition of the
investigated TRIP sheets without transformation induced plasticity effect might be
resulted in better mechanical properties after hot stamping. The determined stress
strain curves of TRIP and 22MnB5 grades after hot stamping were compared in
Figure 5a. It is concluded that the TRIP 800 steel might be a good substitution for
common steel grade. Hot stamping experiments resulted in higher yield and tensile
strength values but lower ductility in 37MnB4 grade than 22MnB5 boron alloyed
blanks. Due to the very high strength levels, it was decided to improve ductility
160
without sacrificing the strength levels. In this regard, tempering treatments at three
different temperatures of 200°C, 250°C and 300°C and different holding times of 5
to 60 minutes were performed on hot stamped blanks. The results are listed in
Table 2. For better explanation, the results were plotted and compared in Figure 5b
and Figure 6. It was found that in all the tempered cases, the yield and tensile
strength values as well as formability index values are higher than the results of hot
stamped boron alloyed blanks. In some samples the yield strength values of the
tempered 37MnB4 samples are as high as or even higher than the tensile strength
of common boron alloyed steel. These are invaluable results.
Figure 5: Comparison between flow curves of the investigated steel grades with the common 22MnB5
steel grade after hot stamping, a) TRIP 800-1mm, and b) 37MnB5-2.8mm.
Figure 6: Effect of tempering on mechanical properties of 37MnB4 boron alloyed grade after hot
stamping. The dashed lines exhibit the values of 22MnB5 boron alloyed sheets.
It was observed in Table 2 that in some tempered samples, not only the yield
strength values were not decreased but they were also increased, although the
tensile strength values were decreased. It might be interpreted due to the role of
carbon. After rapid cooling or quenching during hot stamping experiments, the
carbon content buried in body centred tetragonal martensite cells and
consequently increase the tensile strength levels. During tempering some of the
buried carbon atoms are released and carbides are formed. These carbides trap
161
behind the obstacles and dislocations and accordingly the yield strength is
increased. Two scanning electron images regarding on the microstructure of hot
stamped as well as hot stamped and tempered of 37MnB4 blanks are represented
in Figure 4. For more declaration, some TEM investigations have to be performed.
4. Conclusions and Outlook
The state of the art steel grade for hot stamped components is 22MnB5 boron alloy.
In the present paper, attempts have been focused on introducing new steel grades
with better mechanical properties after hot stamping process. Two steel grades of
37mnB4 boron alloyed and TRIP 800 sheets were chosen. The TRIP samples
represented almost the same yield and tensile strength values but better ductility
than 22MnB5 samples after hot stamping experiments.
Hot stamping and afterwards tempering of 37MnB4 boron bearing blanks resulted
in higher yield strength, higher tensile strength, higher hardness values as well as
improved ductility than 22MnB5 samples. In some cases, the yield strength values
of hot stamped and tempered samples of 37MnB4 are as high as or even higher
than tensile strength of 22MnB5 samples. It is concluded that the TRIP 800 and
especially 37MnB4 steel grades are very suitable grades for production of ultra
high strength components by means of hot stamping process. By installation a
continuous tempering furnace after hot stamping lines, ultra high strength 37MnB4
components without any spring back can be produced.
In the future, FE thermomechanical simulation of the laboratory hot stamping will
be conducted in order to study the influences of process parameters such as
temperature distribution, cooling rate, blank thickness on the resulted mechanical
properties. Additionally, both isothermal as well as non-isothermal hot compression
tests at different ranges of temperature and strain rate are performed for
determination of material flow behaviour. Different phenomenological and
physically based strain hardening models according to isothermal and non-
isothermal condition will be considered. The calculated evolution of temperature
and force will be compared with experimental results for verification of the flow
stress modelling.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge Hoesch Hohenlimburg GmbH, especially Dipl.-Ing.
Peter Hoefel and Dr. Wilfried Haensch, regarding to provision of the materials.
References
[1] Johnson, M. Argyris, R., and MCGee, T.: Int. J. Machine Tool Res., 25-50
(1996), 30
[1] Naderi, M.: Hot stamping of ultra high strength steels, Ph.D. dissertation, 2007.
[2] Jonson, M.: Products in hot stamped boron steel, GESTAMP,
www.autosteel.org.
[3] Naderi, M., Durenberger, L., Molinari, A. and Bleck, W.: J. Materials Science
and Engineering A, 478 (2008), 130-139.
[4] Naderi, M., Akbari, A. S. and Bleck, W.: J. Materials Science and Engineering
A, Available online and In Press, 2008.
[5] Naderi, M., Uthaisangsuk, V., Prahl, U. and Bleck, W.: J. Steel Research
International, 79 (2008) No.2, 5-12.
[6] Kolleck, R., Steinhoefer, D., Feindt, J.A. and Bruneau, P.: IDDRG, Conf. Proc.,
2004, 167- 173.
162
[7] Schiessl, G., Possehn, T., Heller, T. and Sikora S.: IDDRG, Conf. Proc., 2004,
158-166.
[8] DIN 50114, Zugversuch an dünnen Blechen.
[9] DIN ISO 2768, Allgemeintoleranzen.
[10] Lei, G.: Modeling of microstructure in TRIP assisted steels, Master thesis,
Pohang University of science and technology, 2007.
[11] Thelning, K. E.: Steel and its Heat Treatment, Butterworths, 1984, 409-419.
[12] Leslie, W. C.: The Physical Metallurgy of steels, McGraw-Hill international
book Company, USA, 1981, 269-281.
[13] Kapadia, B. M.: Hardenability concepts with application to steel, A.I.M.E.,
Warrendale, USA, 1978, 448.
[14] Morral, J. E. and Cameron, J. B.: Boron hardenability mechanisms, the
Metallurgical Society of the A.I.M.E., 1980.
[15] Jandeska, W. F. and Morral, J. E.: Metall. Trans., 3 (1972), 2933.
[16] Mortimer, D. A. and Nicholas, M. G.: Met. Sci., 10 (1976), 326.
[17] Morral, J. E. and Cameron, J. B.: Met. Trans. A, 8 (1977), 1817.
[18] Maitrepierre, P., Thivellier, D., Roves-Vernis, J., Rousseau, D. and Tricot, R.:
Hardenability concepts with application to steel, A.I.M.E., Warrendale, USA, 1978,
421.
[19] Sharma, R. C. and Purdy, G. R.: Met. Trans., 5 (1974), 939.
163
