Evaluation of the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of ultra-clean steels

Three ultra-low carbon/titanium (Ti) added steels in the as-annealed condit ion were evaluated in order to determine their mechanical properties, in te rms of the percentage elongation and the Lankford value, as well as their c orrosion behaviour. The examination of the processed steels form part of a research program that has the objective of developing ultra-low/carbon stee ls for automotive applications. Characterisation of the mechanical properti es in terms of the percentage elongation and the average Lankford value was carried out for ultra-low carbon/Ti added steels from heals of 230 t of st eel in the as-annealed condition. The results in terms of the above two par ameters indicated the suitability of the experimental steels for extra-deep -drawing applications in the automotive industry. The corrosion behaviour s hows that the microstructure does not have a strong influence on the electr o-chemical behaviour of the evaluated steels when these are exposed to natu ral sea water. The average corrosion rate of the ultra-clean steel was abou t 0.0916 mm per year. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.