IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,571,086
Granted Patent B2
US 12,571,086 · App. 15/552,135 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Method of producing a phosphatable part from a sheet coated with an aluminum-based coating and a zinc coating

Inventors: Christian Allely (Maizières-lès-Metz, FR); Eric Jacqueson (Longeville-les-Metz, FR); Daniel Chaleix (Verny, FR)
Assignee: ArcelorMittal
C23C14/16B21D53/88B32B15/012B32B15/017C21D9/46C23C2/12C23C2/26C23C2/40C23C10/20C23C14/025C23C14/22C23C14/5853C23C28/021C25D3/22C25D5/52C25D13/04C25D13/20C21D2211/002C21D2211/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,571,086
App. No.
15/552,135
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A steel sheet coated with an aluminum-based coating and a second zinc coating having a thickness less than or equal to 1.1 μm is provided. A method for preparing the coated steel sheet, a method for preparing a press-hardened part from the steel sheet, a press-hardened part, and the use of the press-hardened part are also provided.

Claims (78)

1 . A coated steel sheet for press hardening comprising:

a steel sheet;

an aluminum-based coating; and

a zinc coating over the aluminum-based coating, the zinc coating having a thickness less than or equal to 1.1 μm, the zinc coating being primarily zinc;

the coated steel sheet having a weight composition as follows:

0.20%≤C≤0.25%,

0.15%≤Si≤0.35%,

1.10%≤Mn≤1.40%,

0%≤Cr≤0.30%,

0%≤Mo≤0.35%,

0%≤P≤0.025%,

0%≤S≤0.005%,

0.020%≤Ti≤0.060%,

0.020%≤Al≤0.060%, and

0.002%≤B≤0.004%,

a balance of the composition being iron and unavoidable impurities resulting from processing.

2 . A coated steel sheet for press hardening comprising:

a steel sheet;

an aluminum-based coating; and

a zinc coating over the aluminum-based coating, the zinc coating having a thickness less than or equal to 1.1 μm, the zinc coating being primarily zinc the coated steel sheet having a weight composition as follows:

0.24%≤C≤0.38%,

0.40%≤Mn≤3%,

0.10%≤Si≤0.70%,

0.015%≤Al≤0.070%,

0%≤Cr≤2%,

0.25%≤Ni≤2%,

0.020%≤Ti≤0.10%,

0%≤Nb≤0.060%,

0.0005%≤B≤0.0040%,

0.003%≤N≤0.010%,

0.0001%≤S≤0.005%, and

0.0001%≤P≤0.025%,

amounts of titanium and nitrogen satisfying Ti/N>3.42, and

amounts of carbon, manganese, chrome, and silicon satisfying

2.6

C

+

Mn

5.3

+

Cr

13

+

Si

15

≥

1.1

%

,

a balance of the composition being iron and unavoidable impurities resulting from processing.

3 . The coated steel sheet according to claim 2 , further comprising one or more of the following elements by weight:

0.05%≤Mo≤0.65%,

0.001%≤W≤0.30%, and

0.0005%≤Ca≤0.005%.

4 . A method for preparing the coated steel sheet according to claim 1 , wherein the zinc coating is performed by cementation, by electroplating, or by sonic jet vapor deposition under vacuum.

5 . The method according to claim 4 wherein when the zinc coating is deposited by cementation or electroplating, said zinc coating being directly deposited on the aluminum-based coating.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the zinc coating deposited by cementation is carried out by immersion or by spraying.

7 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein when the zinc coating is deposited under vacuum by sonic jet vapor, a thin layer of stainless steel is deposited between the aluminum-based coating and the zinc coating.

8 . A method for preparing a press-hardened part coated with a phosphatable coating comprising the sequential steps of:

A) providing the coated steel sheet for press-hardening according to claim 1 ;

B) cutting the coated steel sheet obtained in step A) to obtain a blank; then

C) heating the blank at a temperature T 1 in a range from 840° C. to 950° C. to obtain a completely austenitic structure in the steel;

D) transferring the blank to a press;

E) hot-pressing the blank to obtain a part;

F) cooling the part obtained in step E) to obtain a martensitic or a martensitic-bainitic structure in the steel composed of at least 75% equiaxed iron, an amount of martensite greater than or equal to 5% and less than or equal to 20%, an amount of bainite less than or equal to 10%.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein step C) is implemented for a time t 1 from 3 to 12 minutes in an inert atmosphere or an atmosphere comprising air.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein during step E), hot-pressing is carried out at a temperature T 2 ranging from 600° C. to 830° C.

11 . A hardened part obtained by the method according to claim 8 , comprising:

a ZnO layer; and

a phosphate crystal layer on the ZnO layer obtained after an additional phosphatation step G).

12 . The hardened part according to claim 11 , wherein a degree of phosphate crystal coverage on the surface of the part is greater than or equal to 90%.

13 . The hardened part according to claim 12 , wherein the degree of phosphate crystal coverage on the surface of the part is greater than or equal to 99%.

14 . The hardened part according to claim 11 , further comprising a cataphoresis layer on the phosphate crystal layer.

15 . The press hardened part according to claim 11 further comprising a cataphoresis layer on the phosphate crystal layer.

16 . A motor vehicle comprising:

the press-hardened part according to claim 11 .

17 . A method of manufacturing motor vehicle parts comprising:

preparing the press hardened part according to claim 11 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: ALLELY, CHRISTIAN; JACQUESON, ERIC; CHALEIX, DANIEL
To: ARCELORMITTAL
Reel/Frame 043891/0893 →
Priority Claims (1)
WO PCT/IB2015/000194 · Feb 19, 2015 · international
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180044774A1 · Feb 15, 2018
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