An alternative strategy for the use of a low-cost age-hardenable Fe-Si-Ti steel for automotive application

For High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steels or for age-hardenable steels (maraging) the strengthening by precipitation is done before forming operation in order to increase the yield stress as much as possible. In this publication the advantages of an hardening thermal treatment after forming operation are investigated in a low cost age-hardenable steel Fe-Si-Ti consistent with automotive application.