METHOD FOR PRODUCING A STEEL COMPONENT PROVIDED WITH A METALLIC COATING PROVIDING PROTECTION AGAINST CORROSION.

摘要

The invention provides a method by which a steel component provided with a metallic coating which has good adhesion and provides protection from corrosion can be produced. The problem addressed by the invention is especially that of specifying a corresponding hot forming process which enables a wide range of processing variants. The emphasis here is not on long-lasting corrosion protection but more on high flexibility of the processing properties. For this purpose, a thin zinc layer having a mean layer thickness of less than 5 µm, preferably in the range of 1-4 µm, more preferably in the range of 2-4 µm, is applied by electrolytic means to a flat steel product consisting of a steel material which can be annealed by quenching in a hot forming process and has a yield point of 150-1100 MPa and a tensile strength of 300-1200 MPa. A billet is then obtained from the flat steel product and is heated directly to at least 800°C and then formed to give the steel component, or is first formed to give the steel component which is then heated to at least 800°C. The steel component obtained in each case is subsequently annealed by cooling it with sufficient speed from a sufficiently high temperature.