Tailored properties by post hot forming processing

• Main Authors: CHAREST, PASCAL P, ADAM, NICHOLAS D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.01.2013
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CHEMISTRY; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUSMETALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE BY DECARBURISATION, TEMPERING OR OTHERTREATMENTS; METALLURGY; METALLURGY OF IRON; MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method of forming a shaped product from an initial blank comprises subjecting the initial blank to a hot forming and press hardening operation to form the shaped product with substantially a uniform first tensile strength. Subsequently, the shaped product is at least partially immersed into a fluidized bed that is maintained within a known range of operating temperatures. While the shaped product is immersed into the fluidized bed, a first region of the shaped product is heated selectively to above a known temperature. The first region is then cooled, such that the first region attains a second tensile strength that is substantially less than the first tensile strength.