Microalloyed steels produced by Usiminas for the automotive industry

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Microalloyed steels produced by Usiminas for the automotive industry

Pereira, J. / Meyer, L. / Melo, Tulio de

Microalloyed steels, including conventional and advanced high strength steels and those extra low carbon steels which offer different combinations of strength and ductility, are currently products highly used by the automotive industry. The use of microalloying elements such as Nb, Ti, V and B allows the production of steels with several combinations of mechanical and technological properties, which can be applied to different body in white parts including closures. Aware of the market movement and as a big supplier of flat steels to the Brazilian automotive sector, Usiminas has for many years included microalloyed steels among its products. This paper describes some of the main microalloyed steels produced by Usiminas and supplied as hot rolled or as cold rolled to the automotive industry, their historical evolution in the company and the market. It also discusses the main mechanical and microstructural features of these steels as well as their typical applications in modern auto construction. Usiminas, as the major domestic steel supplier for the Brazilian automotive industry and as an important player of the international market has today a large flexibility concerning microalloyed steels in its product portfolio, being able to meet most of the requirements from this important economical segment. In the last few years, the results of the ULSAB program and stringent environmental policies have determined an increased consumption of high strength steels, particularly the Advanced High Strength Steels. Following this trend, Usiminas has recently concentrated its research effort in the development of these steels whose microstructures and mechanical properties may also be optimized by the consistent use of microalloying elements.