The potential for high strength steels in the U.S. automotive industry

The rapidly developing materials technology of high strength steels (HSS) is offering significant competition to the alternate materials for weight reduction (plastics, aluminium alloys) in the automobile industry. The dynamic HSS field offers a range of products tailored for various applications, with constant evolvement of new grades of steel to meet developing needs. The steels can be divided into three broad classifications, based on the strengthening mechanisms. The metallurgy of these different classes is described. The factors involved in selecting HSS for automotive applications are described, and their properties relative to these applications are delineated. It is concluded that HSS offer a broad spectrum of opportunities for significant weight reduction in automobiles.