EP3437753B1 - Method for manufacturing a mechanical clinch joining component - Google Patents

Method for manufacturing a mechanical clinch joining component Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3437753B1
EP3437753B1 EP17774133.7A EP17774133A EP3437753B1 EP 3437753 B1 EP3437753 B1 EP 3437753B1 EP 17774133 A EP17774133 A EP 17774133A EP 3437753 B1 EP3437753 B1 EP 3437753B1
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Prior art keywords
joining
less
ceq
steel sheets
mechanical
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3437753A4 (en
EP3437753A1 (en
Inventor
Noriyuki JIMBO
Takayuki Yamano
Shinichi Yamamoto
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Kobe Steel Ltd
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Kobe Steel Ltd
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/02—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing silicon
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D22/00—Shaping without cutting, by stamping, spinning, or deep-drawing
    • B21D22/20—Deep-drawing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D22/00—Shaping without cutting, by stamping, spinning, or deep-drawing
    • B21D22/20—Deep-drawing
    • B21D22/208—Deep-drawing by heating the blank or deep-drawing associated with heat treatment
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D39/00—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
    • B21D39/03—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders of sheet metal otherwise than by folding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D39/00—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
    • B21D39/03—Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders of sheet metal otherwise than by folding
    • B21D39/031—Joining superposed plates by locally deforming without slitting or piercing
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/001—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing N
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/002—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing In, Mg, or other elements not provided for in one single group C22C38/001 - C22C38/60
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/04—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing manganese
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/06—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing aluminium
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/12—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, vanadium, or niobium
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/14—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing titanium or zirconium
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
    • C22C38/28—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with titanium or zirconium
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
    • C22C38/32—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with boron
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
    • C22C38/38—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/60—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing lead, selenium, tellurium, or antimony, or more than 0.04% by weight of sulfur

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mechanical clinched joint component, and more particularly, to a method for manufacturing a high-strength mechanical clinched joint component successfully without occurrence of a defect such as a crack.
  • An ultra-high-strength steel sheet is increasingly used in a vehicle body frame for providing both collision safety and weight reduction of an automobile.
  • an automobile steel component is reinforced by joining, using spot welding, a reinforcement member to a main member of the steel component to partly increase the thickness of the steel component.
  • this method requires a spot welding process for joining after production of both the main member and the reinforcement member, thereby presents a problem of cost increase.
  • mechanical clinch joining is known as a joining method of spot joining by cold working.
  • This joining method is a kind of staking operation to join metal components together mechanically.
  • Table 1 summarizes types of staking operation and features of the respective types. As illustrated in Table 1, there are several types of staking operation. Among these is mechanical clinch joining, which is a method in which two or more metal sheets are pressed at one time using a convex punch and a concave die.
  • This mechanical clinch joining is characterized in that, as illustrated in Table 1, no pretreatment or auxiliary joining elements are required; that the joining process can be performed during press forming; and that application of mechanical clinch joining to a hot forming process further enables the joint portion to be quenched by cooling effect by the die.
  • Patent Literature 1 describes performing of a staking operation called TOX® during pressing, which seems cold pressing.
  • this joining method is intended for an outer side panel having a low matrix strength, and is therefore supposedly inapplicable to an ultra-high-strength staked component.
  • Patent Literature 2 describes performing of press work using a press die at a lower temperature under a condition in which a burring portion of the bracket portion member unheated has been fit into a receiving hole of a beam body member at a high temperature at 850°C or above, thus to perform, at one time, forming and quenching of the beam body, and staking of the bracket portion with the beam body by bending or collapsing of the burring portion.
  • this method requires a bracket portion preparation step to previously form the bracket portion member having a cylindrical flange-shaped burring portion fittable into the receiving hole of the beam body member. That is, production of a complex shape requires another step in addition to the pressing step, thereby increasing the cost. In addition, since use of an ultra-high-strength steel sheet is not taken into account, the heating and staking operation may cause a crack, or cause failure in providing sufficiently high peel strength.
  • a component having ultra-high strength and sufficiently high peel strength in particular, a component produced using an ultra-high-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength of 1180 megapascal (MPa) or greater using mechanical clinch joining successfully without occurrence of a defect such as a crack without adding an extra step other than the mechanical clinch joining step.
  • MPa megapascal
  • the present invention has been made in view of the foregoing background, and it is an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a mechanical clinched joint component having ultra-high strength and sufficiently high peel strength using mechanical clinch joining successfully without occurrence of a defect such as a crack without adding an extra step other than the mechanical clinch joining step.
  • JP 2013-022628 A describes a method of manufacturing a metal junction body and a metal junction body.
  • KR 2004 0017462 A describes forming a press metallic pattern for simultaneously clinching and forming plural panels.
  • a mechanical clinched joint component produced by the method of the present invention which is a mechanical clinched joint component formed of two or more steel sheets, where the component includes at least one joint portion having a peel strength of 0.200 kN/mm or greater, and the component has a hardness of 360 Hv or greater.
  • a method for manufacturing the mechanical clinched joint component sequentially includes heating the two or more steel sheets to an Ac3 temperature or above, the steel sheets having a tensile strength of 1180 MPa or more; and performing mechanical clinch joining so that a carbon equivalent Ceq of the steel sheets, and a bottom-dead-center holding time t and a joining start temperature T during mechanical clinch joining satisfy relationships of equation (1) below and of equation (2) below: Ceq ⁇ 0.00209 ⁇ t + 0.000731 ⁇ T ⁇ 0.0365 ⁇ 0.200 Ceq ⁇ ⁇ 0.00071 ⁇ T + 0.993 where Ceq represents the carbon equivalent (mass%) of the steel sheets calculated by equation (3) below, t represents the bottom-dead-center holding time (second), and T represents the joining start temperature (°C).
  • Ceq C + 1 / 6 ⁇ Mn + 1 / 24 ⁇ Si + 1 / 40 ⁇ Ni + 1 / 5 ⁇ Cr + 1 / 4 ⁇ Mo + 1 / 14 ⁇ V
  • each of element names represents a content in mass% in the steel sheets, and represents zero if that element is not contained, and wherein the mechanical clinched joint component includes at least one joint portion
  • Ac3 transformation point (°C) 910 - 203 ⁇ [C]0.5 - 15.2 ⁇ [Ni] + 44.7 ⁇ [Si] + 104 ⁇ [V] + 31.5 ⁇ [Mo] + 13.1 ⁇ [W] - 30 ⁇ [Mn] - 11 ⁇ [Cr] - 20 ⁇ [Cu] + 700 ⁇ [P] + 400 ⁇ [Al] + 400 [Ti], and hot press forming is also performed in the step of performing mechanical clinch joining
  • the present inventors have carried out considerable research to solve the problem described above.
  • cold forming was performed on steel sheets having a tensile strength from 270 to 1470 MPa and sheet thickness of 1.4 mm to join the steel sheets together crosswise using a die having attached thereto a mechanical clinching tool used in examples described later.
  • the results confirm that, as illustrated in Table 2, a steel sheet tensile strength of 780 MPa or greater has caused a crack during joining, thereby causing failure in mechanical clinch joining.
  • the present inventors have found that the relationships between the carbon equivalent Ceq of the steel sheets, and the bottom-dead-center holding time t and the joining start temperature T during mechanical clinch joining need to satisfy equation (1) and equation (2) given later in the joining step after the heating step of heating the steel sheet to a certain temperature or higher.
  • a mechanical clinched joint component produced by the present invention is a mechanical clinched joint component formed of two or more steel sheets, where the component includes at least one joint portion having a peel strength of 0.200 kN/mm or greater, and the component has a hardness of 360 Hv or greater.
  • the configuration described above can provide a mechanical clinched joint component having ultra-high strength and sufficiently high peel strength.
  • the method for manufacturing the mechanical clinched joint component is characterized in sequentially including heating the two or more steel sheets to an Ac3 temperature or above; and performing mechanical clinch joining so that a carbon equivalent Ceq of the steel sheets, and a bottom-dead-center holding time t and a joining start temperature T during mechanical clinch joining satisfy relationships of equation (1) and of equation (2) given later.
  • Such configuration can provide a method for manufacturing the mechanical clinched joint component as described above using mechanical clinch joining successfully without occurrence of a defect such as a crack without adding an extra step other than the mechanical clinch joining step.
  • the two or more steel sheets are heated to an Ac3 temperature or above first.
  • This heating process facilitates the joining process described later, and enables a joint component having a desired characteristic to be produced.
  • the heating temperature is preferably [Ac3 temperature + 10]°C or higher. An excessively high temperature for this heating temperature results in a coarse microstructure, and thus may reduce ductility or bendability.
  • the upper limit of the heating temperature is preferably [Ac3 temperature + 180]°C, and more preferably about [Ac3 temperature + 150]°C.
  • the Ac3 temperature can be determined using the following equation described in " Leslie Tekkou Zairyougaku” (originally titled “The Physical Metallurgy of Steels,” Maruzen Co., Ltd., published on May 31, 1985, p.273 ).
  • the expression [element name] represents the content in mass% of that element contained in the steel.
  • the value for an element not contained can be calculated as zero.
  • Ac 3 transformation point ° C 910 ⁇ 203 ⁇ C 0.5 ⁇ 15.2 ⁇ Ni + 44.7 ⁇ Si + 104 ⁇ V + 31.5 ⁇ Mo + 13.1 ⁇ W ⁇ 30 ⁇ Mn ⁇ 11 ⁇ Cr ⁇ 20 ⁇ Cu + 700 ⁇ P + 400 ⁇ Al + 400 Ti
  • the heating duration at the heating temperature described above is preferably one minute or more. In addition, in view of limiting grain growth of austenite and the like, the heating duration is preferably 15 minutes or less.
  • the temperature may be raised to the Ac3 transformation point at any rate. Examples of the method of heating include furnace heating, Joule heating, and induction heating.
  • the present inventors have considered conditions for this joining step particularly to increase the peel strength of the joint portion of the joint component.
  • the value CTS/L obtained by division of CTS by L is used as the peel strength. This allows peel strength to be evaluated regardless of the size of the joint portion.
  • the value L corresponds to the circumference of this circular shape.
  • joining conditions have also been considered to provide a component having a component hardness and the above peel strength of a certain predetermined value or greater, in particular, the peel strength CTS/L of 0.200 kN/mm or greater.
  • manufacturing of a mechanical clinched joint component using different steel sheet compositions, different bottom-dead-center holding times, and different joining start temperatures as shown in examples described later has shown that joining conditions exist for forming a component having the component hardness and the peel strength each of a certain predetermined value or greater without occurrence of a crack.
  • the peel strength CTS/L is expressed as equation (4) given below using the carbon equivalent Ceq, serving as an index of the steel sheet quenching property, the bottom-dead-center holding time t, and the joining start temperature T.
  • the value Ceq (mass%) is a value calculated from equation (3) below defined in JIS G 0203, and the values a, b, and c are coefficients.
  • the present inventors have manufactured mechanical clinched joint components using different steel sheet compositions, different bottom-dead-center holding times, and different joining start temperatures as described in examples described later, and performed experiments of determining peel strength of the components manufactured. To find out an equation for achieving a peel strength of 0.200 kN/mm or greater, multiple regression analysis has been performed on the experimental results to determine the values of the coefficients a, b, and c in equation (4) above, and equation (1) below has thus been obtained.
  • Ceq C + 1 / 6 ⁇ Mn + 1 / 24 ⁇ Si + 1 / 40 ⁇ Ni + 1 / 5 ⁇ Cr + 1 / 4 ⁇ Mo + 1 / 14 ⁇ V
  • Equation (2) below is given in view of the fact that the joining start temperature is affected by the steel sheet constituent composition, in particular, by Ceq among others. Equation (2) below has also been drawn by manufacturing mechanical clinched joint components using different steel sheet compositions and different joining start temperatures, and by performing experiments of determining peel strength of the components manufactured. Ceq ⁇ ⁇ 0.00071 ⁇ T + 0.993 where Ceq represents the carbon equivalent (mass%) of the steel sheets calculated by equation (3) above, and T represents the joining start temperature (°C).
  • the two or more steel sheets used in mechanical clinch joining of this embodiment may have different constituent compositions, i.e., different Ceq values, between the steel sheets.
  • the lowest value of Ceq is used in equation (1) and in equation (2).
  • Performing joining under the conditions that satisfy equation (1) and equation (2) above enables all the conditions (A) to (D) to be satisfied. That is, a mechanical clinched joint component having (A) component strength of Hv ⁇ 360 and (B) peel strength of CTS/L ⁇ 0.200 kN/mm can be manufactured without adding a preliminary process or post-process and at a reduced cost.
  • Forming the shape of a component by mechanical clinch joining serves similarly to forming the shape of a component by pressing, and may thus contribute to improvement in rigidity of the component.
  • the joining start temperature is preferably 400°C or higher.
  • the bottom-dead-center holding time preferably has a longer value in view of improvement in peel strength, but if productivity is of importance, or a multiple-step process described later is performed, the bottom-dead-center holding time for one joining operation is preferably 3 seconds or less.
  • hot press forming is also performed in the step of performing mechanical clinch joining.
  • the hot press forming may be performed under any conditions, and may be performed using a commonly used method.
  • the temperature at the start of press forming i.e., at the time when the die reaches the position in contact with the steel sheet, is preferably about 400°C or higher.
  • the method for manufacturing a joint component of this embodiment needs only to include the heating step and the joining step described above in this order.
  • the joining step may be performed only once, or twice or more.
  • a step, for example, of processing the steel sheets as described in the first step of the second aspect described below may be performed as other step than the joining step.
  • This embodiment eliminates the need to perform other step than the heating and forming steps, thereby enabling a joint component to be manufactured at high productivity at a reduced cost.
  • Specific aspects of the manufacturing method according to this embodiment in a case in which joining is performed simultaneously with hot press forming include, for example, a first aspect and a second aspect described below.
  • the present invention is not limited to these aspects.
  • examples described below are described in terms of spot joining for a circular clinched portion, other aspects including other shapes, such as spot joining of rectangular portion and linear joining along the longitudinal direction of the component, are also within the scope of the present invention.
  • the forming process can be performed, for example, using a device illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • a steel sheet 1 heated and another steel sheet 2 heated serving as a reinforcement member are stacked together one on top of another, are placed on a support platform 3, and are air-cooled to a joining start temperature.
  • a pressing punch 11 including therein a joining punch 6 is lowered to perform press forming and joining at one time.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a situation in which the bottom dead center has been reached.
  • the steel sheets 1 and 2 are press-formed by the pressing die 8, the pad 9, and the pressing punch 11, and at the same time, are joined together by a joining die 4 included in the pad 9 and by the joining punch 6.
  • the forming process can be performed, for example, as illustrated in FIGs. 2A to 2C .
  • the steel sheets are heated, and thereafter, a first step illustrated in FIG. 2A , a second step illustrated in FIG. 2B , and a third step illustrated in FIG. 2C are performed consecutively.
  • a first step illustrated in FIG. 2A a second step illustrated in FIG. 2B
  • a third step illustrated in FIG. 2C are performed consecutively.
  • the steel sheet 1 heated is placed on the support platform 3, and an excess length producing punch 10 is then lowered to produce an excess length in the steel sheet 1 that will form the outer wall of the component as illustrated in FIG. 2A .
  • the other steel sheet 2 is placed over the steel sheet 1 having the excess length, and the joining punch 6 is then lowered to join together the steel sheets 1 and 2 at two points by the joining punch 6 and by the joining die 4 included in the pressing die 8 as illustrated in FIG. 2B .
  • joint portions 12A and 12B are produced.
  • a third step which is the last step, hot press forming and joining are performed at one time.
  • the pressing punch 11 including therein the joining punch 6 is lowered to perform press forming as well as joining.
  • FIG. 2C illustrates a situation in which the bottom dead center has been reached.
  • the steel sheets 1 and 2 are press-formed by the pressing die 8, the pad 9, and the pressing punch 11, and at the same time, are joined together by the joining die 4 included in the pad 9 and by the joining punch 6 to form a joint portion 12C.
  • This step enables the joint portions 12A and 12B to be formed on a component vertical wall portion 13.
  • the steel sheet 1 and the other steel sheet 2 are applicable, for example, respectively as an outer component and an inner component.
  • the joining step may be performed on a same portion twice or more as described in Example 2 described below.
  • the constituents of the steel sheets for use in the joining described above are not particular limited.
  • the two or more steel sheets may satisfy the conditions of constituent composition given below.
  • Examples of usable type of steel sheet include hot-rolled steel sheets, cold-rolled steel sheets, plated steel sheets such as galvanized steel sheets produced by plating these steel sheets, and alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheets produced by further performing alloying. This method is applicable not only to joining of steel sheets, but also to joining of different materials (i.e., application of multi-material technology) such as a steel sheet and an aluminum sheet.
  • constituent compositions of the steel sheets forming the component of this embodiment that is, the constituent compositions of the steel sheets for use in the joining may include the composition described below. Note that, as used in the description of constituent composition given below, the unit “%" means mass% unless otherwise indicated.
  • the content of C is preferably 0.15% or more.
  • the content of C is more preferably 0.17% or more, and is still more preferably 0.20% or more. Meanwhile, in view of weldability of the member produced, the content of C is preferably up to 0.4% or less, more preferably 0.30% or less, and still more preferably 0.26% or less.
  • Silicon (Si) is an element effective in improving the quenching property of a hot-pressed steel sheet, and in stably ensuring the strength of a hot press-formed component.
  • the content of Si is preferably 0.05% or more, and more preferably 0.15% or more.
  • an excess content of Si impedes production of a milder steel sheet for hot pressing, and moreover, significantly raises the Ac3 temperature, thereby causing the ferrite component to remain at the heating stage in hot pressing. This makes it hard to achieve high strength.
  • the content of Si is preferably 2% or less, more preferably 1.65% or less, and still more preferably 1.45% or less.
  • Manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr) are each an element useful for improving the quenching property of a steel sheet to produce a high-strength member. These elements may be used alone or in combination of two or more. From the viewpoint described above, at least one of Mn and Cr is contained preferably with a content of 1.0% or more in total, more preferably 1.5% or more in total, still more preferably 1.8% or more in total, and yet further preferably 2.0% or more in total. However, an excess content of any of these elements only results in saturation of the effect thereof, and thus results in a cost increase. Thus, in this embodiment, at least one of Mn and Cr is contained preferably with a content of 5.0% or less in total, more preferably 3.5% or less in total, and still more preferably 2.8% or less in total.
  • the constituent composition may include the constituents described above, with the balance being iron and incidental impurities.
  • the incidental impurities may include, for example, phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and nitrogen (N) as described below.
  • the content of P is preferably limited to 0.05% or less, more preferably to 0.045% or less, and still more preferably to 0.040% or less. Note that the content of P cannot be reduced to 0% for manufacturing reasons, and thus, the lower limit of the content of P is greater than 0%.
  • the content of S is preferably limited to 0.05% or less, more preferably to 0.045% or less, and still more preferably to 0.040% or less. Note that the content of S cannot be reduced to 0% for manufacturing reasons, and thus, the lower limit of the content of S is greater than 0%.
  • N Nitrogen fixes boron (B) as BN, thereby reducing the quenching property improvement effect.
  • the content of N is preferably 0.01% or less, more preferably 0.008% or less, and still more preferably 0.006% or less. Note that the content of N cannot be reduced to 0% for manufacturing reasons, and thus, the lower limit of the content of N is greater than 0%.
  • containing of selective element(s) described below such as titanium (Ti) in a suitable amount can have effects such as facilitation of achievement of high strength. If at least one of Ti, B, aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), vanadium (V), and zirconium (Zr) is contained, these elements may be used alone or in combination of two or more. These elements will be described below.
  • Titanium fixes nitrogen as TiN to cause boron to exist in a solid solution state, and is thus effective in providing good quenching property. If such effect of titanium is to be utilized, the content of Ti is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.015% or more, and still more preferably 0.020% or more. Meanwhile, an excess content of Ti increases the strength of the steel sheets to be processed more than necessary, thereby decreasing the lives of cutting tool and punching die, and thus increasing the cost. Therefore, the content of Ti is preferably 0.10% or less, more preferably 0.06% or less, and still more preferably 0.04% or less.
  • Boron is an element useful for improving the quenching property of a steel product to achieve high strength even using slow cooling. If such effect of boron is to be utilized, the content of B is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.0003% or more, still more preferably 0.0015% or more, and yet further preferably 0.0020% or more. Meanwhile, an excess content of B results in excess generation of BN, thereby decreasing in toughness. Thus, the content of B is preferably 0.005% or less, more preferably 0.0040% or less, and still more preferably 0.0035% or less.
  • Aluminum is an element used for deacidification. If this effect is to be utilized, the content of Al is preferably greater than 0%, and more preferably 0.01% or more. Meanwhile, a higher content of Al has a larger effect on raising the Ac3 temperature, thereby requiring a higher heating temperature in hot pressing, which reduces production efficiency. Thus, the content of Al is preferably 0.5% or less, more preferably 0.20% or less, still more preferably 0.10% or less, and yet further preferably 0.050% or less.
  • Molybdenum is an element effective in improving the quenching property of a steel sheet. It is expected that containing of this element reduce variation in hardness of the formed products. If this effect of molybdenum is to be utilized, the content of Mo is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.01% or more, and still more preferably 0.1% or more. However, an excess content of Mo only results in saturation of this effect, and thus results in a cost increase. Thus, the content of Mo is preferably 1% or less, more preferably 0.8% or less, and still more preferably 0.5% or less.
  • Copper is an element effective in improving the quenching property, and is also useful for improving delayed-fracture resistance and oxidation resistance of a formed product. If this effect of copper is to be utilized, the content of Cu is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.01% or more, and still more preferably 0.1% or more. However, an excess content of Cu may cause a surface flaw during steel sheet manufacturing. This will degrade pickling property, and thus reduce productivity. Thus, the content of Cu is preferably 0.5% or less, and more preferably 0.3% or less.
  • Nickel is an element effective in improving the quenching property, and is also useful for improving delayed-fracture resistance and oxidation resistance of a formed product. If this effect of nickel is to be utilized, the content of Ni is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.01% or more, and still more preferably 0.1% or more. However, an excess content of Ni may cause a surface flaw during steel sheet manufacturing. This will degrade pickling property, and thus reduce productivity. Thus, the content of Ni is preferably 0.5% or less, and more preferably 0.3% or less.
  • Niobium is an element having an effect of constructing a finer structure, thereby contributing to an increase in toughness.
  • the content of Nb is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.005% or more, and still more preferably 0.010% or more.
  • an excess content of Nb increases the strength of the steel sheets, thereby reducing the tool life in the blanking step including an operation such as cutting a steel sheet into a predetermined shape before hot press forming. This increases the cost.
  • the content of Nb is preferably 0.10% or less, and more preferably 0.05% or less.
  • Vanadium is an element having an effect of constructing a finer structure, thereby contributing to an increase in toughness.
  • the content of V is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.005% or more, and still more preferably 0.010% or more.
  • an excess content of V increases the strength of the steel sheets similarly to the case of Nb, thereby reducing the tool life in the blanking step. This increases the cost.
  • the content of V is preferably 0.10% or less, and more preferably 0.05% or less.
  • Zirconium is an element having an effect of constructing a finer structure, thereby contributing to an increase in toughness.
  • the content of Zr is preferably greater than 0%, more preferably 0.005% or more, and still more preferably 0.010% or more.
  • an excess content of Zr increases the strength of the steel sheets similarly to the cases of Nb and V, thereby reducing the tool life in the blanking step. This increases the cost.
  • the content of Zr is preferably 0.10% or less, and more preferably 0.05% or less.
  • the method for manufacturing the steel sheets are not limited either. It is sufficient to perform, using general methods, casting, heating, and hot rolling, and pickling followed by cold rolling as needed, and furthermore, annealing as needed.
  • the hot-rolled steel sheet or cold-rolled steel sheet produced may be plated, as needed, using plating such as zinc-containing plating using a general method, and then further be alloyed as needed.
  • the mechanical clinched joint component produced by the method of the present invention is a mechanical clinched joint component formed of two or more steel sheets, where the component includes at least one joint portion having a peel strength of 0.200 kN/mm or greater, and the component has a hardness of 360 Hv or greater.
  • the method for manufacturing the mechanical clinched joint component sequentially includes heating the two or more steel sheets to an Ac3 temperature or above; and performing mechanical clinch joining so that a carbon equivalent Ceq of the steel sheets, and a bottom-dead-center holding time t and a joining start temperature T during mechanical clinch joining satisfy relationships of equation (1) below and of equation (2) below: Ceq ⁇ 0.00209 ⁇ t + 0.000731 ⁇ T ⁇ 0.0365 ⁇ 0.200 Ceq ⁇ ⁇ 0.00071 ⁇ T + 0.993 where Ceq represents the carbon equivalent (mass%) of the steel sheets calculated by equation (3) below, t represents the bottom-dead-center holding time (second), and T represents the joining start temperature (°C).
  • Ceq C + 1 / 6 ⁇ Mn + 1 / 24 ⁇ Si + 1 / 40 ⁇ Ni + 1 / 5 ⁇ Cr + 1 / 4 ⁇ Mo + 1 / 14 ⁇ V
  • each of element names represents a content in mass% in the steel sheets, and represents zero if that element is not contained, and wherein the mechanical clinched joint component includes at least one joint portion
  • Ac3 transformation point (°C) 910 - 203 ⁇ [C]0.5 - 15.2 ⁇ [Ni] + 44.7 ⁇ [Si] + 104 ⁇ [V] + 31.5 ⁇ [Mo] + 13.1 ⁇ [W] - 30 ⁇ [Mn] - 11 ⁇ [Cr] - 20 ⁇ [Cu] + 700 ⁇ [P] + 400 ⁇ [Al] + 400 [Ti], and hot press forming is also performed in the step of performing mechanical clinch joining.
  • the two or more steel sheets used in the method for manufacturing the mechanical clinched joint component may each have a constituent composition in mass% satisfying:
  • the method for manufacturing the mechanical clinched joint component may perform the step of performing mechanical clinch joining a plurality of times.
  • a steel sheet A and a steel sheet B having constituent compositions illustrated in Table 3 were each used to prepare two specimens having a dimension of 150 mm ⁇ 50 mm ⁇ sheet thickness 1.4 mm, and each pair of the two test specimens was mechanically clinched together using the tool illustrated in FIG. 3 .
  • the steel sheet 1 and the other steel sheet 2 heated at 930°C for 4 minutes were stacked together, crosswise, one on top of another, and were placed on the support platform 3 between the joining punch 6 included in the joining punch holder 7 and the joining die 4 included in the joining die holder 5. After air cooling to the joining start temperature described below, the joining die 4 was lowered to perform mechanical clinch joining under the conditions listed below, and test specimens representing the component were thus produced.
  • the hardness and peel strength of the test specimens produced were determined as follows.
  • Vickers hardness Hv was determined at three points per steel sheet under a load condition of 1 kgf in a portion other than the joint portion, i.e., in a holder portion of the component, at a location of 1/4 sheet thickness of each steel sheet that constitute the component. The results of the three points were averaged for each steel sheet, and the lowest average value in the steel sheets was used as the hardness of that component. Evaluation was made against the following criteria.
  • the cross tensile strength CTS (kN) of each test specimen was measured according to JIS Z 3137. This CTS value was divided by the circumference L (mm) of the joint portion to calculate the cross tensile strength per unit peripheral length CTS/L (kN/mm) of the joint portion as the peel strength. A peel strength corresponding to this CTS/L value of 0.200 kN/mm or greater was classified as high.
  • FIGs. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating cross sections of the die used and of the joint component produced. As illustrated in FIG. 4B , the joint diameter d of the joint component was measured, and then a value of d/D was also calculated by dividing this joint diameter d by the die diameter D illustrated in FIG. 4A . A smaller d/D value indicates stronger joining, and the value of d/D is preferably 1.029 or less.
  • Table 4 shows the following results for the case of the steel sheet A.
  • Specimens Nos. 1 to 8 are those of examples of performing mechanical clinch joining so that the carbon equivalent Ceq of the steel sheets used, and the bottom-dead-center holding time t and the joining start temperature T during mechanical clinch joining satisfy relationships of predetermined equation (1) and equation (2).
  • joining was performed successfully without occurrence of a crack, and the component produced had a high hardness Hv corresponding to 1180 MPa or greater, and a peel strength CTS/L of 0.200 kN/mm or greater.
  • a bottom-dead-center holding time of 10 seconds resulted in satisfactory hardness.
  • a combination of a joining start temperature of 800°C and a bottom-dead-center holding time of 10 seconds further resulted in sufficiently high peel strength.
  • specimen No. 9 had a joining start temperature that did not satisfy equation (2), thereby caused a soft phase to segregate. Therefore, even though no cracks occurred, the hardness was low, and the peel strength was also low.
  • Table 5 shows the following results for the case of the steel sheet B.
  • Specimens Nos. 1 to 12 are those of examples of performing mechanical clinch joining so that the carbon equivalent Ceq of the steel sheets used, and the bottom-dead-center holding time t and the joining start temperature T during mechanical clinch joining satisfy relationships of predetermined equation (1) and equation (2).
  • joining was performed successfully without occurrence of a crack, and the component produced had a high hardness Hv corresponding to 1180 MPa or greater, and a peel strength CTS/L of 0.200 kN/mm or greater.
  • a joining start temperature of 500°C or higher achieved both Hv ⁇ 450 and CTS/L ⁇ 0.200kN/mm even without holding at the bottom dead center.
  • steel sheets can be joined together using a joining start temperature from 500 to 600°C, and in addition, the bottom-dead-center holding time can be reduced or omitted. This enables joining in a multiple-step process, and joining to a vertical wall portion such as one illustrated in FIGs. 2A to 2C is also possible.
  • FIG. 6 drawn based on the results of Table 4 and Table 5 above shows that the left-side values of equation (1) and CTS/L values almost match.
  • Table 6 shows that performing a higher number of the joining operations increases the peel strength CTS/L. This may be because, despite the bottom-dead-center holding time being zero, pressing a same portion consecutively increases the number of contacts between the steel sheet and the tool to increase the total contact time therebetween, thereby decreasing the d/D value.
  • the present invention has a wide range of industrial applicability in technical fields relating to mechanical clinch joining.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
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  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Sheet Steel (AREA)
  • Shaping Metal By Deep-Drawing, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Pressure Welding/Diffusion-Bonding (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Articles (AREA)
  • Insertion Pins And Rivets (AREA)
EP17774133.7A 2016-03-31 2017-03-08 Method for manufacturing a mechanical clinch joining component Active EP3437753B1 (en)

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PCT/JP2017/009224 WO2017169588A1 (ja) 2016-03-31 2017-03-08 メカニカルクリンチ接合部品およびその製造方法

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RU2699427C1 (ru) 2019-09-05
MX2018011735A (es) 2018-12-19
EP3437753A4 (en) 2019-10-09
WO2017169588A1 (ja) 2017-10-05
KR102133176B1 (ko) 2020-07-13
KR20180132758A (ko) 2018-12-12
EP3437753A1 (en) 2019-02-06
CA3018539C (en) 2020-12-29
JP2017177206A (ja) 2017-10-05
CN108883458A (zh) 2018-11-23
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CN108883458B (zh) 2020-07-31
CA3018539A1 (en) 2017-10-05

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