Material Characterization and Modeling for Finite Element Simulation of Press Hardening with AISI 420C

Abstract The process of press hardening is gaining importance in view the increasing demand for weight reduction combined with higher crash safety cars. An alternative to established manganese-boron steel 22MnB5 hot-formed martensitic chromium steels such as AISI 420C. Strengths 1850 MPa and elongations 12% are possible, exceeding those 22MnB5. In industrial manufacturing, FE-simulation commonly used order design car body parts cost-efficiently. Therefore, characterization modeling 420C regarding flow stress, phase transformations well failure behavior presented this paper. Temperature-depended curves determined, showing low stress at temperatures around 1000 °C. Cooling experiments carried out, a continuous cooling diagram generated. Observed phases martensite retained austenite relevant rates above 10 K/s. addition, tests investigate temperature-dependent forming limit performed. As expected, highest reached 1050 °C decreases falling temperature. Finally, simulation model press-hardening chain set up based on material characterized earlier compared experimental values. force, transformation could be calculated good agreement experiment.