Production Forming and Welding Applications with Higher Strength Cold-Rolled AK Rephosphorized Steel

Emphasis is placed on formability and weldability of higher-strength cold-rolled AK rephosphorized steel body panels.

Production forming trials were conducted to determine the feasibility of producing higher-strength cold-rolled AK rephosphorized body panels with production low-strength tooling and if press modifications were necessary to produce acceptable higher-strength parts. In addition, laboratory spot-welding characteristics of higher-strength AK rephosphorized steels were examined to compare weldability to weldability data generated for lower-strength AK steel.

Case studies described indicate that higher-strength AK rephosphorized steels can be substituted for lower-strength steels with minimal sacrifice in formability and spot weldability.