Hot Stamping

Abstract

The article provides insight on the novel technology of hot stamping high-strength steel sheets. The process includes blank heating above the steel austenitization temperature, rapid transfer to the press, and forming and quenching between the cooled dies. Thanks to this thermo-mechanical cycle, the steel formability limits are drastically enhanced, and components characterized by outstanding mechanical properties can be obtained. The process' main features in terms of material behavior, boundary conditions, finite element modeling, and obtainable product properties are described. The new technology developments currently under implementation are also outlined.