Method of producing steel components that simultaneously have high strength and high ductility and which retain these properties even after a hot forming operation

摘要

A steel with a carbon content of less than 0.3 percent by weight is used for steel-based components which are subjected to hot forming. A predominantly lower bainite structure is achieved by controlled cooling. The advantage is that components, such as truck steering knuckles, which are forged at temperatures of up to about 1300 DEG C., no longer need be subjected to annealing or tempering after cooling in order to possess good ductility in addition to high strength.