IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,607,211
Granted Patent B2
US 12,607,211 · App. 18/271,402 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Welded joint and automobile member

Inventors: Takuya Mitsunobu (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Takebayashi (Tokyo, JP); Takehiro Takahashi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
F16B5/08B23K11/11B62D27/02B62D29/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,607,211
App. No.
18/271,402
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure inhibits liquid metal embrittlement (LME) cracking and improves corrosion resistance in a welded joint obtained by spot welding a first steel sheet and a second steel sheet. In the welded joint of the present disclosure, a first plating layer is provided on a surface of the first steel sheet facing the second steel sheet, no plating layer is present on or a second plating layer is provided on a surface of the second steel sheet facing the first steel sheet, a boundary plating layer is provided between the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet in a range of 0.5 mm from an end part of the corona bond of the spot welded part toward an outside of the spot welded part, and a Zn penetrated part is present at least at one of the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet adjoining the boundary plating layer. The Zn penetrated part advances from the boundary plating layer along the steel grain boundary, an Mg concentration at a front end of the Zn penetrated part at a location where a Zn concentration is 0.1 mass % is 0.20 mass % or less, and the first plating layer and the second plating layer satisfy a predetermined Relation I.

Claims (54)

1 . A welded joint comprising a first steel sheet, a second steel sheet, and a spot welded part joining the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet, wherein

a first plating layer is provided on a surface of the first steel sheet facing the second steel sheet,

no plating layer is present on or a second plating layer is provided on a surface of the second steel sheet facing the first steel sheet,

the spot welded part has a nugget and a corona bond,

a boundary plating layer is provided between the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet, from an end part of the corona bond to 0.5 mm from the end part of the corona bond toward an outside of the spot welded part,

a Zn penetrated part is present at least at one of the first steel sheet or the second steel sheet adjoining the boundary plating layer,

the Zn penetrated part advances from the boundary plating layer along a steel grain boundary, the Zn penetrated part comprising a first part in direct contact with the boundary plating layer and a front end in a direction away from the boundary plating layer and not in direct contact with the boundary plating layer,

an Mg concentration at the front end of the Zn penetrated part, at a location where a Zn concentration is 0.1 mass %, is 0.20 mass % or less, and

the first plating layer and the second plating layer satisfy the following Relation I:

0.010≥[(Mg composition of the first plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the first plating layer (g/m 2 ))+(Mg composition of the second plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the second plating layer (g/m 2 ))]/[(Zn composition of the first plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the first plating layer (g/m 2 ))+(Zn composition of the second plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the second plating layer (g/m 2 ))]≥0.001  Relation I:

where, if no second plating layer is present, the Mg composition, Zn composition, and amount of deposition of the second plating layer are 0.

2 . The welded joint according to claim 1 , wherein

the first plating layer and the second plating layer satisfy the following Relation I-1:

0.006>[(Mg composition of the first plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the first plating layer (g/m 2 ))+(Mg composition of the second plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the second plating layer (g/m 2 ))]/[(Zn composition of the first plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the first plating layer (g/m 2 ))+(Zn composition of the second plating layer (mass %))×(amount of deposition of the second plating layer (g/m 2 ))]≥0.001.  Relation I-1:

3 . The welded joint according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one oxide with a long diameter of 0.5 μm or more is present in the boundary plating layer, wherein the long diameter represents a length of a largest line segment cutting across the at least one oxide.

4 . The welded joint according to claim 1 , wherein

the welded joint has an internal oxide layer of a depth of 1.5 μm or more and 20.0 μm or less on the surface side of the first steel sheet facing the second steel sheet.

5 . The welded joint according to claim 1 , wherein

the tensile strength of any of the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet which has the Zn penetrated part is 590 MPa or more.

6 . An automobile member comprising the welded joint of claim 1 , wherein

the first steel sheet is arranged at the outer side of the vehicle,

the second steel sheet is arranged at the inner side of the vehicle, and

the Mg composition of the second plating layer is lower than the Mg composition of the first plating layer.

7 . The automobile member according to claim 6 , wherein

the [Mg composition of the first plating layer (mass %)]/[Zn composition of the first plating layer (mass %)] is larger than 0.01.

8 . The welded joint according to claim 2 , wherein

at least one oxide with a long diameter of 0.5 μm or more is present in the boundary plating layer, wherein the long diameter represents a length of a largest line segment cutting across the at least one oxide.

9 . The welded joint according to claim 2 , wherein

the welded joint has an internal oxide layer of a depth of 1.5 μm or more and 20.0 μm or less on the surface side of the first steel sheet facing the second steel sheet.

10 . The welded joint according to claim 3 , wherein

the welded joint has an internal oxide layer of a depth of 1.5 μm or more and 20.0 μm or less on the surface side of the first steel sheet facing the second steel sheet.

11 . The welded joint according to claim 2 , wherein

the tensile strength of any of the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet which has the Zn penetrated part is 590 MPa or more.

12 . The welded joint according to claim 3 , wherein

the tensile strength of any of the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet which has the Zn penetrated part is 590 MPa or more.

13 . The welded joint according to claim 4 , wherein

the tensile strength of any of the first steel sheet and the second steel sheet which has the Zn penetrated part is 590 MPa or more.

14 . An automobile member comprising the welded joint of claim 2 , wherein

the first steel sheet is arranged at the outer side of the vehicle,

the second steel sheet is arranged at the inner side of the vehicle, and

the Mg composition of the second plating layer is lower than the Mg composition of the first plating layer.

15 . An automobile member comprising the welded joint of claim 3 , wherein

the first steel sheet is arranged at the outer side of the vehicle,

the second steel sheet is arranged at the inner side of the vehicle, and

the Mg composition of the second plating layer is lower than the Mg composition of the first plating layer.

16 . An automobile member comprising the welded joint of claim 4 , wherein

the first steel sheet is arranged at the outer side of the vehicle,

the second steel sheet is arranged at the inner side of the vehicle, and

the Mg composition of the second plating layer is lower than the Mg composition of the first plating layer.

17 . An automobile member comprising the welded joint of claim 5 , wherein

the first steel sheet is arranged at the outer side of the vehicle,

the second steel sheet is arranged at the inner side of the vehicle, and

the Mg composition of the second plating layer is lower than the Mg composition of the first plating layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2023
From: MITSUNOBU, TAKUYA; TAKEBAYASHI, HIROSHI; TAKAHASHI, TAKEHIRO
To: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064191/0594 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-001927 · Jan 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240084833A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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