Method for Producing a Component Having Improved Elongation at Break Properties

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for producing a component having improved elongation at break properties, in which a component (6) is firstly produced, preferably in a hot forming or press curing process (4), and the component (6) is heat treated after hot forming and / or press curing (4), where the heat treatment temperature T and the heat treatment time t essentially satisfy the numerical relationship T≧900·T−0.087, where the heat treatment temperature T is in ° C. and the heat treatment time t is in seconds. The invention also relates to a component, in particular an automobile body component or the chassis of a motor vehicle, which has been produced by such a process. The invention further relates to the use of such a component as part of an automobile body or a chassis of a motor vehicle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application is a continuation of co-pending PCT Application No. PCT / EP2009 / 066984, filed Dec. 11, 2009, which claims the benefit of German Application No. 10 2008 055 514.2, filed Dec. 12, 2008, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a method for producing a component having improved elongation at break properties, in which a component is firstly produced, preferably in a hot forming and / or press curing process, and the component is tempered after hot forming and / or press curing. The invention also relates to a component produced with this method, preferably a component of the body or the chassis of a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to the use of such a component as part of the body or chassis of a motor vehicle.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In the construction of motor vehicles the safety of the motor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]This object is achieved according to the invention in that the tempering temperature T and the tempering time t substantially satisfy the numerical relationship T≧900·t0.087, wherein the tempering temperature T is to be expressed in ° C. and the tempering time t in seconds. It has been shown that in a tempering process that observes the abovementioned numerical relationship the elongation at break value A80 is increased sufficiently and in a process that offers reliability.

[0021]The object forming the basis of the invention is finally achieved in that a component according to the invention is used as part of the body or chassis of a motor vehicle. The component is particularly well-suited to such an application, since because of its high level of hardness and its very good elongation at break properties the safety of the occupants of the vehicle is increased. The high level of hardness of the component also allows a low material thickness to be used and thus a reduction in the weight of the vehicle body work. This can lead to lower material costs and lower consumption by the vehicle.

Problems solved by technology

But these components do lack residual strain capability.

It has been shown, however, that the known method does not lead to high elongation at break values with sufficient reliability.

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