High strength, nitrogen-alloyed austenitic stainless steel for automotive applications

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High strength, nitrogen-alloyed austenitic stainless steel for automotive applications

Kim, Y.H. / Kim, K.Y. / Lee, W.S. / Choi, Y.M.

The tensile properties, strain hardening characteristics and sheet formability of a new austenitic stainless steel containing high manganese and nitrogen with a reduced amount of nickel have been investigated in order to prove the technical viability of its use in automotive structural components. The meta-stable austenitic Cr-Mn-Ni-N steel (0.03 - 0.05 % C, 0.4 - 0.5 % Si, 8.5 - 9.3 % Mn, 15.9 - 17.1 % Cr, 2.1 - 4.3 % Ni, 0.2 - 0.27 % N) showed an excellent combination of yield strength, strain hardening and ductility both in as-annealed and as-work-hardened conditions. In spite of relatively low strain-hardened conditions. In spite of relatively low strain-induced martensite formation as compared to the conventional 301L steel, the Cr-Mn-Ni-N steel exhibited an outstanding work hardening capability as well as a more homogeneous nature of strain hardening. It has been also found that the formability of the Cr-Mn-Ni-N steel is somewhat better than those of 301L, except for a little increased spring-back. From the results of finite element analysis for the front sub-frame of passenger car, it has been suggested that the use of the Cr-Mn-Ni-N steel would give an increased structural safety of the components with a remarkable weight saving. (VDEh)