Method for producing a shaped component having at least two structural regions of different ductility

Abstract

According to the method, a blank ( 7 ) that is severed from strip material ( 4 ) of coated, high-strength boron steel is homogeneously heated in a furnace ( 11 ) having a plurality of temperature zones ( 8, 9, 10 ) first in a 1 st zone ( 8 ) to a temperature of approximately 830° C. to 950° C. and maintained at this temperature level for a defined time (t). Thereafter, a region ( 12 ) of first kind of the blank ( 7 ) is cooled down in a 2 nd zone ( 9 ) of the furnace ( 11 ) to a temperature of approximately 550° C. to 700° C. and maintained at this lowered temperature level for a defined time (t 1 ). At the same time, a region ( 13 ) of second kind of the blank ( 7 ) is maintained in a 3 rd zone ( 10 ) of the furnace ( 11 ) at a temperature level of approximately 830° C. to 950° C. during a time (t 2 ). After this heat treatment, a blank ( 7 ) is formed into a shaped component ( 1 ) in a thermoforming process.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of producing a shaped component with at least two structural regions of different ductility, comprising the steps of:
 cutting a blank from a strip material of high-strength boron steel provided with an Al/Si coating;   heating the blank in a first temperature zone of a furnace to a first temperature of about 830° C.-950° C.;   maintaining the blank at the first temperature for a defined time;   allowing a first region of the blank to cool down in a second temperature zone of the furnace to a second temperature of about 550° C.-700° C.;   maintaining the first region of the blank at the second temperature for a defined time, while maintaining a second region of the blank in a third temperature zone of the furnace at the first temperature; and   forming the blank into the shaped component in a thermoforming process.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first region of the blank is brought momentarily in contact with cooling jaws to cool down to the second temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first region of the blank cooled down to the second temperature by blowing cooled gas onto the first region. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cooled gas is nitrogen. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a shaped component with at least two structural regions of different ductility, comprising the steps of:
 heating a strip material of high-strength boron steel provided with an Al/Si coating in a pre-furnace to a first temperature of about 830° C.-950° C.;   maintaining the strip material at the first temperature for a defined time;   cooling down the strip material;   cutting blanks from the strip material;   transferring each blank into a two-zone furnace;   heating a first region of each blank in a first zone of the furnace to a second temperature of about 550° C.-700° C., while heating a second region in a second zone of the furnace to the first temperature; and   forming the blanks into the shaped component in a thermoforming process.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first region of the blank is brought momentarily in contact with cooling jaws to cool down to the second temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first region of the blank cooled down to the second temperature by blowing cooled gas onto the first region. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cooled gas is nitrogen. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a shaped component with at least two structural regions of different ductility, comprising the steps of:
 cutting blanks from a strip material of high-strength boron steel provided with an Al/Si coating;   heating each blank to a first temperature of about 830° C.-950° C. in a pre-furnace;   maintaining the blanks at the first temperature for a defined time;   cooling down the blanks; transferring each blank into a two-zone furnace;   heating a first region of each blank in a first zone of the furnace to a second temperature of about 550° C.-700° C., while heating a second region in a second zone of the furnace to the first temperature; and   maintaining the first and second regions of each blanks at the first and second temperatures, respectively;   forming the blanks into the shaped component in a thermoforming process.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first region of the blank is brought momentarily in contact with cooling jaws to cool down to the second temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first region of the blank cooled down to the second temperature by blowing cooled gas onto the first region. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cooled gas is nitrogen.