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The Metallurgy of Advanced High Strength for Zinc-Coated Applications and Beyond 
A short course with Dr Anthony Deardo 
November 14, 2018 | 09:00 AM - 04:15 PM | Benedum Hall 102

Professor: Anthony J. DeArdo
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Purpose and Goals: This one-day course is intended to introduce interested stakeholders to the physical metallurgy, processing, microstructure and mechanical properties of Advanced High Strength Steel substrates that are used for galvanized, galvannealed and bare products and applications.  

Who Should Attend: The course is aimed at professionals working in, or associated with high strength steels, including zinc or aluminum coatings companies, the fabrication industries such as sheet metal forming and welding, equipment and material suppliers, and professionals interested in galvanizing and formability. Typical delegates would include senior production operators, engineers, technical and quality control personnel.

Learning Outcomes: Theoretical and practical understanding of the metallurgy of the new AHSS, especially high strength dual-phase steels processed on continuous galvanizing (CG) lines.

Understanding of the processes, product and properties of AHSS steels, especially dual-phase steels that are used to make body-in-white and other coated components for the automotive and construction industries.  

It is critical to note that the processes used to apply the protective coatings are, themselves, heat treatments that can importantly alter the microstructure and properties of both the steel substrate and the coating.  This course will teach the attendees how to optimize the beneficial effects while minimizing the detrimental effects of the processing.

Pre-requisites: None

Cost: $1,500 (includes handout, coffee breaks and lunch provided)

Course Outline

(9:00-11:30 a.m.) Lecture 1: Introduction

What is steel and what is the differentiation among common steel (AKDQ), high strength steel (HSLA) and advanced high strength steel.?  Why are the AHSS so special?  Difference between galvanizing AKDQ vs. AHSS.

Overview of families of AHSS (DP, TRIP, Martensitic, Hot Stamped and TWIP)

The critical mechanical properties of sheet steel?  Brief review of processing- microstructure-property relations as they apply to CG line processing.  

(11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) Lunch

(12:00-2:00 p.m.) Lecture 2: Case Study - Processing Zinc-Coated DP steels on a Continuous Galvanizing (CG) Lines 

What is the Dual-Phase (DP) microstructure and how is it formed from the cold rolled state during the CG line processing?  What are the critical features of the microstructure and control points of the process?

Typical compositions & starting conditions: cold rolled ferrite-pearlite hot band

Intercritical annealing (1382-1562F / 750-850C) and associated metallurgical events: (i) Annealing cold rolled ferrite, (ii) Forming austenite, (iii) Transformations upon cooling from annealing T to zinc pot (860F/460C), (iv) Transformations from zinc pot to room temperature, (v) microstructure-property relationships, (vi) achieving Generation III properties. 

Supercritical annealing above the AC3 temperature

Subcritical annealing below the AC1 temperature

(2:00-2:15 p.m.) Break 

(2:15-3:15 p.m.) Lecture 3: Variables affecting the CG line annealing response. Influences of:  Composition, Hot band coiling temperature, % Cold reduction, Microalloying and Annealing path (new approaches)

(3:15-4:15 p.m) Guided tour of research facilities on in Swanson School of Engineering

(4:15 p.m.)  Adjourn