A comparison of process chains

Abstract
Due to the requirements to reduce the part weights in automotive manufacturing significantly, the use of lightweight materials such as aluminium, magnesium and high-strength steels becomes more and more important. Unfortunately, these materials are often characterized by limited formability. In the case of high-strength steels materials, additional challenges are therefore posed in terms of providing the necessary forming forces and pressures and in controlling the significant springback characteristics. Here too, there is an opportunity to counteract these disadvantages by the strategic use of temperature as a process parameter.
A known strategy, already in use in industrial applications, is the hot forming of boron-manganese alloy steels, in which the blanks or pre-formed components are heated above what is termed the austenitisation temperature with subsequent regulated cooling. This innovative technology is known as press hardening and can be used to realize complex components.
However, an important precondition for the industrial use of this technology is the consideration of economic aspects and the guarantee of effectiveness, respectively. Therefore, this paper gives an overview about the performed study including illustration of considered technologies/processes, defined boundary conditions, solution approach and achieved results.