• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 2024

A hot-dip simulator was utilized to replicate abnormal coating buildup observed during line stops at galvanize lines, assessing the influence of processing conditions on buildup (up to 14 mm/side). Steel samples from 19 coils (comprising IF, BH, LCAK, HSLA, DP600-DP1180, Si: 0.006 - 0.8 wt%, P: 0.009 - 0.045 wt%) were examined to explore the phenomenon of heavy coating growth. It was discovered that heavy coating buildup (~3 mm/h) and rapid strip dissolution (~0.17 mm/h) in a GA or GI pot can manifest with specific combinations of steel chemistry and processing conditions. The results reveal the formation of a unique coating microstructure, characterized by a blend of bulky Zeta crystals and free Zn pockets/networks due to the "Sandlin" growth mechanism. Key variables contributing to abnormal coating growth include steel Si content, anneal temperature, dew point in heating and soaking furnaces, Zn pot temperature, Zn bath Al%, and cold-rolling reduction%. At ArcelorMittal Dofasco galvanize lines, an automatic online warning system for operators and special scheduling for incoming Si-bearing steels have been implemented, effectively preventing further heavy buildup occurrences.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.21-25
• /
• 2016

The automotive vehicle is made through the following processes such as press shop, welding shop, paint shop, and general assembly. Among them, the most important process to determine the quality of the car body is the welding process. Generally, more than 400 pressed panels are welded to make BIW (Body In White) by using the RSW (Resistance Spot Welding) and GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding). Recently, as the needs of light-weight material due to the $CO_2$ emission issue and fuel efficiency, new joining technologies for aluminum, CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) and etc. are needed. Aluminum parts are assembled by the spot welding, clinching, and SPR (Self Piercing Rivet) and friction stir welding process. Structural adhesive boning is another main joining method for light-weight materials. For example, one piece aluminum shock absorber housing part is made by die casting process and is assembled with conventional steel part by SPR and adhesive bond. Another way to reduce the amount of the car body weight is to use AHSS (Advanced High Strength Steel) panel including hot stamping boron alloyed steel. As the new materials are introduced to car body joining, productivity and quality have become more critical. Productivity improvement technology and adaptive welding control are essential technology for the future manufacturing environment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.11 no.9
• /
• pp.3155-3160
• /
• 2010

Nowadays, most car manufactures have tried to improve fuel efficiency and corrosion resistance of car body. Therefore, use of high strength steels and coated steel becomes more and more increased. In this study, spot weld characteristics according to lap sequence of sheets were analyzed using simulation method for three different steel sheet of car body which were EDDQ class coated steel with 0.7t, high strength steel 440R with 1.2t and advanced high strength steel DP 590 with 1.0t. Using simulation, weldability was evaluated by nugget size of welded zone according to nugget growth curve and welding current with respect to lap sequence of sheets. Contact resistance of each sheets contact point was used to analyze formation of nugget and optimal lap sequence was suggested.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2013

The spot welds of Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels are prone to interfacial failure and narrow welding current range. Hard microstructures in weld metal and heat affected zone arenormally considered as one of the main reason to accelerate the interfacial failure mode. There fore, detailed observation of weld microstructure for TRIP steels should be made to ensure better weld quality. However, it is difficult to characterize the microstructure, which has similar color, size, and shape using the optical or electron microscopy. The atomic force microscope (AFM) can help to analyze microstructure by using different energy levels for different surface roughness. In this study, the microstructures of resistance spot welds for AHSS are analyzed by using AFM with measuring the differences in average surface roughness. It has been possible to identify the different phases and their topographic characteristics and to study their morphology using atomic force microscopy in resistance spot weld TRIP steels. The systematic topographic study for each region of weldments confirmed the presence of different microstructures with height of 350nm for martensite, 250nm for bainite, and 150nm for ferrite, respectively.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.66-73
• /
• 2010

Conventional fracture test of resistance spot weld had been performed without consideration of paint baking process in automobile manufacturing line. This study was aim to investigate the effect of paint baking on fracture mode and load carrying capacity in fracture test for resistance spot welded 780TRIP steels. With paint baking cycle after resistance spot welds, peel tests and microhardness were conducted on the as-welded and baked samples. Resistance spot welds in AHSS (Advanced High Strength Steels) are prone to display partial interfacial fractures during fracture test or vehicle crash. Baking cycle increased the load-carrying capacity of the resistance spot welded samples and improved the fracture appearance from partial to full button fracture for the L-type peel tests. Specially, the differences in fracture appearance are apparent when the nugget size of spot welds is small enough to produce the partial interfacial fracture. The comparison of macrohardness and microstructure between as-welded and baked samples showed that there are no large difference in change the fracture mode. However, the results of the instrumented indentation test suggested that fusion zone and HAZ of baked sample have less tensile and yield strength and proves that the tempering effects are applied and enhanced the resistance to fracture on welds with application of baking cycle.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.46 no.12
• /
• pp.780-787
• /
• 2008

For the advanced high strength steels (AHSS), high-manganese TWIP (twinning induced plasticity) steels exhibit high tensile strength (800-1000 MPa) and high elongation (50-60%). However, the TWIP steels need to be understood of delayed fracture following the cup drawing test. Among the factors to cause delayed fracture, i.e, martensite transformation, hydrogen embrittlement and residual stress, the effects of martensite transformation (${\gamma}{\rightarrow}{\varepsilon}$ or ${\gamma}{\rightarrow}{\alpha}^{\prime}$) were investigated on the delayed fracture phenomenon. Microstructural phase analysis was conducted for cold rolled (20, 60, 80% reduction ratio) steels and tensile deformed (20, 40, 60% strain) steels. For the Al-added TWIP steels, no martensite phase was found in the cold rolled and tensile deformed specimen. But, the TWIP steels with no Al addition indicated the martensite transformation. The cup drawing specimens showed the martensite transformation irrespective of the Al-addition to the TWIP steel. However, the TWIP steel with no Al exhibited the larger amount of martensite than the case of the TWIP steel with Al addition. For the reason, it was possible to conclude that the Al addition suppressed the martensite transformation in TWIP steels, therefore preventing the delayed fracture effectively. However, it was interesting to note that the mechanism of delayed fracture should be incorporated with hydrogen embrittlement and/or residual stress as well as the martensite transformation.