Press hardening
Hot stamping is a relatively new technology which allows ultra-high strength steels to be formed into complex shapes, which is not possible with regular cold stamping operations. This process is commonly used for the production of automotive body in white components because its advantages align with the design criteria of modern passenger vehicles. For high strength aluminium alloys, there is a similar hot forming process, which has different metallurgical transformations - Hot Form Quench.
Methods
;Direct Process:The unformed blank is heated in a furnace, formed in hot condition, and quenched in the die to achieve the required properties.
;Indirect Process:
The blank is formed, trimmed, and pierced in cold condition. It is later heated and quenched in a die to get high strength properties.
Selection of the process depends on part complexity and blank coating. In either method, the blank is formed in a much softer and formable state and is later hardened in the dies, which have drilled cooling channels. A typical hot stamped components has 1000 MPa Yield Stress and 1500 MPa Ultimate tensile strength. The process is undergoing constant refinement with new grades of steel emerging for hot and cold forming.