Sheet steel technology for the last 100 years: Progress in sheet steels in hand with the automotive industry

Abstract

Development in sheet steels has progressed in strong relation with automotive industry in Japan. To meet the requirements from automotive industry, various types of sheet steels including high and ultrahigh strength steel sheets have been developed. Progresses in three types of steel series will be discussed by checking the historical facts and technologies and their contributions. Introductions of interstitial free (IF) steel and continuous annealing system are the important events in mild steel developments for panels. Extensive work on finding the optimum mixtures of hard and soft phases to improve elongation of steels contributed to improve the crashworthiness of autobodies. Continuous annealing system also played an important role in producing these advanced high strength steels. Precipitation is used in a particular way which is to scavenge solute carbon and nitrogen and to prevent coarse cementite particle precipitation. It is also worth to point out that the collaborative activities particularly strong in Japan between steel manufacturers and auto companies have affected the progress in advanced sheet steels.