Preparation and Anti-Oxidation Mechanism of an Inventive Preprocessing Method for Press-Hardened Steels

Abstract

Press hardening with manganese-boron steels is a prominent manufacturing technique that allows for reduced weight and expense in automotive construction, while providing enhanced crash performance. Nevertheless, the development of a loosely attached oxide layer during press hardening and following additional processing of the layer presents a significant risk to the dimensional precision of the completed product. Here, we develop a new preprocessing approach to address the scale spallation issue by introducing trace amounts of silicate and tungstate into the rinsing solution following pickling. We demonstrate that the pre-deposited membrane promotes the formation of a noticeably thinner, more continuous and stickier oxide scale at high temperatures, enabling the direct application of automobile painting onto the scale. Our research provides an economical remedy to the troublesome scale flaking issue without requiring any modifications to the existing production line, and conveys a thorough comprehension of the mechanism by which the preprocessed membrane resists high-temperature oxidation.