Martensitic transformation during simultaneous high temperature forming and cooling experiments

The main target of hot stamping is to combine accurate forming, low forming forces and high material strength in complex steel components. In the present study, the hot stamping process is simulated by means of simultaneous forming and quenching experiments. This is performed by uniaxial compression tests at high temperatures using a dilatometer. The effects of process parameters like strain, strain rate, initial deformation temperature, austenization time and applied forces on the martensitic transformation of the boron steel 27MnCrB5 are investigated. It is concluded that with increasing strain rate and initial deformation temperature, martensite content, hardness and martensite start temperature (Ms) are increased. On the contrary, when applying larger deformations, the above mentioned properties are decreased. It is also concluded that, regardless of the process parameters, higher applied forces retard the successful martensitic transformation during hot stamping.