中 Open the possibility of commercializing ultra-high-tensile steel sheets for strength 2.4 GPa-class automobiles

*This content was translated by AI.

China's Shou Steel and Cheil Motors (FAW) announced on their SNS account on the 24th that they have jointly developed and verified ultra-high tension hot stamping steel plates with a tensile strength of 2.4 GPa (2,400 MPa) to secure the safety of next-generation cars. The 2.4GPa-class steel they developed and introduced is a number that exceeds the performance of 1.5GPa to 1.8GPa-class hot stamping steel, which is currently the highest in the global automobile industry, meaning that the load that can withstand per unit area has risen dramatically.

According to the technical details released by the two companies, the new steel improved the strength of key components such as door reinforcement by about 15% compared to the existing 2.0GPa-class steel, and the energy absorption capacity in case of a collision by more than 10%. In particular, it can reduce the weight of parts from 5% to 10% while maximizing the yield strength and tensile strength of the material, which is directly connected to increasing the efficiency of electric vehicles, where securing mileage is essential. These high-strength materials are directly linked to the improvement of core skeletal stiffness, such as A-pillar, B-pillar, side sill, roof rail, and battery pack protection frames, which require minimal deformation of the passenger compartment in case of a vehicle collision.

Shou Steel and FAW also decided to introduce high-level metallurgical technology and new heat treatment processes to maintain moldability and processability while increasing the tensile strength of steel. Generally, the higher the strength, the harder the material is, so cracks are likely to occur when processing into complex shapes, but the two companies said they have completed simulated crash tests and durability verification to solve these technical challenges and optimize them for actual vehicle design through joint research.

From a global market perspective, the emergence of 2.4 GPa-class steel is posing a technical challenge to domestic manufacturers. Currently, Hyundai Motor Co. has the world's best technology by applying 1.8 GPa-class hot stamping steel plates to premium models such as Genesis G90, but new materials from China have achieved about 33% higher strength. KGM also uses POSCO's steel plate to apply 1.5GPa-class materials to major models such as Torres, but the 2.4GPa figure is about 60% higher in strength than the current main material.

Industry experts point out that the extreme strength of the material should be accompanied by new bonding technologies or precise heat treatment control technologies rather than conventional welding methods. Based on this achievement, the course system and the FAW plan to apply the material first to FAW's strategic vehicles, including the next-generation Hongchi brand model, which is interpreted as the Chinese automobile industry's willingness to lead global standards in key materials beyond simple assembly production.

In the end, the commercialization of 2.4 GPa-class ultra-high-tensile steel is expected to be a catalyst for accelerating material competition among global steel and automakers. The importance of material technology is growing to address the conflicting goals of lightweight and safety that automakers must achieve, and who will stably mass-produce ultra-high-strength materials first and implant them into the body is a key factor in determining the future leadership of the automobile market.

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*This content was translated by AI.