Coated steel, hot stamping parts formed therefrom, and hot stamping method

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a steel part, for example a part designed for use in a vehicle, is provided. The method includes applying an Al—Si coating to a blank formed of steel. The method further includes applying an iron-based coating to the Al—Si coating. The coated blank is then heated in a roller hearth furnace. During the heating step, the blank is conveyed along a plurality of ceramic rollers from an entrance to an exit of the furnace. The heating step typically includes heating the coated blank to a temperature ranging from 840° C. to 950° C. so that the iron from the steel blank and iron from the iron-based coating diffuses into the Al—Si coating and forms a layer of intermetallic compounds. The method then includes stamping the coated blank while the blank is at an elevated temperature to form the part.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.