Tata to launch new boron steel

Tata Steel launches a new ultra-high strength steel, ZnX for the automotive industry.The save weight and increase safety there is a growing trend towards the use of press-hardened steels in automotive applications. The predominant process in this area is ‘direct’ hot forming, where a blank (or sheet) of steel is heated and subsequently pressed and quenched, resulting in ultra-strong components.

At present only uncoated and aluminised sheet steels are suitable for direct hot forming. However, Tata Steel says it is developing an innovative new zinc-coated boron steel product, ZnX, which offers the same ultra high strength benefits, with the added advantage of active corrosion protection. The company will produce the steel at its Dutch plants.

“Trials of ZnX to date have proved promising, and we believe the product represents a significant step forward in our ambition to offer next-generation materials for car body engineering,” said Jaap Piso, Tata Steel’s Automotive sales and marketing director.

Environmental regulations have piled pressure on the automotive steel industry to find lightweight ultra-high strength products amid growing competition from other products, including aluminium and plastic.

The development of the ultra lightweight steel products helps steel producers regain ground lost, in particular to the aluminium industry, says Chris Houlden, principal consultant at metal and mining consultancy CRU.