Influence of austenitizing parameters on mechanical behavior of press hardened steels

Abstract

Recent increases in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard have led to an increased focus on lightweight materials for use in vehicle architectures. In particular, press hardened steels (PHS) have been identified as suitable materials to reduce vehicle mass while maintaining or possibly improving vehicle crash performance. A fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of PHS with respect to changes in processing conditions is critical to their proper use. In this work, 22MnB5 Al-Si coated blanks were austenitized at several different times and temperatures to produce a range of prior austenite grain sizes. Mechanical behavior was evaluated using smooth sided tensile testing, double edge notch tensile testing, and free bend testing. Metrics, such as notch tensile strength, notch strength ratio, and notch displacement, which is based on the fracture mechanics parameter crack tip opening displacement, were derived from double edge notch tensile testing to assess material notch sensitivity and toughness as a function of processing conditions. Additionally, bend angle at maximum load, post uniform bending slope, and energy for fracture were measured using free bend testing to provide another means for evaluating mechanical behavior. Increasing the austenitizing temperature and hold time resulted in an increase in the measured prior austenite grain size; however, elevated austenitizing temperatures also increased the thickness of the coating interdiffusion layer. In the coated material, tensile strength decreased with increasing prior austenite grain size for both notched and smooth sided tensile samples, but minimal difference was observed in the strain to failure results. Notch displacement, bend angle at maximum load, and energy for fracture during free bend testing all decreased with increasing prior austenite grain size in the coated PHS and also showed a significant drop in measured behavior for the 1025 °C for 30 minutes austenitizing condition, which was not observed in smooth sided tensile testing. The drop in mechanical behavior for this condition was not observed when the coating was removed, which suggests that the interdiffusion layer may degrade the mechanical behavior of PHS. Bend angle at maximum load and energy for fracture in bend testing also decreased for the smallest prior austenite grain size conditions, which was not observed in any of the other testing methods. Results from the three testing methods indicate that differences in the stress and strain state associated with each test influences their ability to discern differences between microstructure and processing conditions of press hardened steels.