Press hardening of alternative high strength aluminium and ultra-high strength steels

The boron steel press hardening process takes more and more importance on the body in white structure in the last decade. In this work, the advantages of using alternative alloys on the press hardening process is analysed. In particular, the press hardening of AA7075 high strength aluminium and CP800 complex phase ultra-high strength steel is analysed. The objective is to analyse the potential decrease on springback while taking into account the strength change associated with the microstructural modification carried out during the press hardening process. The results show a clear improvement of the final springback in both cases. Regarding the final mechanical properties, an important decrease has been measured in the AA7075 due to the process while an important increase has been found in the CP800 material.