Bake Hardening of Laser Welded Dual Phase Steel

The influence of bake hardening on the mechanical properties of laser welded dual phase steel was investigated. A remarkalbe increase of the hardness in the zone influenced by laser welding was observed. The fusion zone had a low carbon lath martensite microstructure. The laser weld region had a higher interstitial carbon content than the base material. The dual phase steel exhibited a clear bake hardening effect in both the as‐received and the laser‐welded conditions. The bake hardening effect is more pronounced in the prestrained laser welded condition. A pronounced decrease of the ductility was observed for prestrained laser welded DP steel.