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Niobium in Engineering Steels for Automotive Applications
Author(s) -
Klinkenberg Christian,
Trute Sebastian,
Bleck Wolfgang
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
steel research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.603
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1869-344X
pISSN - 1611-3683
DOI - 10.1002/srin.200606450
Subject(s) - weldability , formability , forging , materials science , metallurgy , automotive industry , niobium , toughness , welding , carbon fibers , composite material , engineering , composite number , aerospace engineering
In the last decade, the European niobium consumption in automotive strip and sheet has more than tripled. The development of high strength and advanced high strength steel grades for strip and plate products focused upon constantly increasing strength levels combined with excellent fatigue properties as well as formability and weldability. Until now, the high potential of microalloyed steel has not been used to the same extent in forgings and springs. This paper reviews automotive components as transmissions, suspensions and springs highlighting new material solutions for special steels having optimized processing and in‐use properties. Special consideration is given to the metallurgical background as well as to examples for the processing and application of niobium microalloyed steel in forgings and springs from low carbon and higher carbon containing steels. Niobium metallurgy permits the reduction of carbon to meet more stringent end‐user requirements demanding high strength combined with improved toughness, fatigue strength and weldability at a competitive manufacturing cost.