Aluminum-Coated Blank Joining to Prevent Hardness Loss

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing aluminum coated blanks face challenges in minimizing the reduction in hardness and physical properties of the joint portion, particularly due to segregation issues during laser bonding, which can lead to a decrease in mechanical properties.

Innovation Solution

The proposed method involves bonding two aluminum coated steel sheets with a filler wire at their boundary, using a laser beam to melt the sheets and the filler wire, resulting in a joint portion with specific compositions and microstructures that maintain or exceed the hardness of the base material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If bonding speed is increased for productivity, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but segregation occurs because coating components are not evenly diluted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding speedVSAvoiduniformity of composition
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes multiple parameters simultaneously: laser power, bonding speed, and filler wire feed rate. By adjusting these parameters in combination, the process achieves both high productivity and uniform composition. The filler wire composition parameters are specifically designed to ensure proper dilution and mixing at high bonding speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The bonding process incorporates feedback control mechanisms that monitor and adjust parameters in real-time. This ensures that even at high bonding speeds, the coating components are evenly diluted and segregated, maintaining compositional uniformity throughout the bonded portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Strength

If filler wire is used to prevent strength reduction, then mechanical properties are improved, but segregation may occur due to uneven dilution of coating components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength of bonded portionVSAvoidsegregation of components
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention carefully selects and optimizes the filler wire composition parameters. The filler wire is designed with specific elemental compositions that prevent both strength reduction and segregation. By controlling the chemical composition of the filler wire, the process achieves uniform mixing of coating components without forming segregated regions or brittle intermetallic compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method effectively minimizes the reduction in hardness and physical properties of the joint portion, prevents segregation defects, and ensures the joint portion maintains high hardness and strength after hot stamping, thereby enhancing the overall quality of the aluminum coated blank.

Implementation Method 1

bonding a joint portion that connects the first coated steel sheet to the second coated steel sheet by providing a filler wire at a boundary between the first coated steel sheet and the second coated steel sheet and applying a laser beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser beam: Laser

Implementation Method 2

the joint portion is formed by melting the first coated steel sheet, the second coated steel sheet, and the filler wire together by applying the laser beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP3991910B1Manufacturing method of an aluminium coated blank.
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 HYUNDAE STEEL CO LTD
  • EP3991910B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3991910B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3991910B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed is an aluminum coated blank that includes a first coated steel sheet; a second coated steel sheet connected to the first coated steel sheet; and a joint portion that connects the first coated steel sheet to the second coated steel plate at a boundary between the first coated steel sheet and the second coated steel sheet.