According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal has developed a new form of automotive steel sheet that is 25 percent stronger and 20-30 percent lighter than the toughest high-tensile steel on the market today.
Currently, the highest grade of cold-rolled steel that is commercially available has a strength of 1,180 MPa (171 ksi). In comparison, the new steel has a strength of 1,470 MPa (213 ksi). The new steel was produced through improvements to the heat treatment process and the addition of alloy elements. As a result, the material is more resistant to cracks from the stamping process.
Although the material is still not as light as aluminum alloy or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, its price is only 30 percent of aluminum’s and approximately five percent of carbon fiber’s. Nippon Steel is currently conducting verification tests, and plans to market the product for use in vehicle frames, chassis and other automotive components in 2020.
For more information, visit the Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal website.