German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp Steel (TKS) and Japan's second-biggest steel producer JFE Steel Corporation have announced the joint development of a new multiphase steel for automotive applications.
In a statement on the issue, ThyssenKrupp said that the new steel has a minimum strength of 780 megapascals (MPa), similar to that of advanced ultrahigh-strength steels such as CP-W 800 from TKS and NANO 780 from JFE; however, with up to 40 percent higher elongation compared with conventional 780MPa high-strength steel, the new steel possesses significantly improved forming properties.
TKS and JFE have been working closely together since 2002 under a cooperation agreement aimed at securing the global availability of high-performance steel materials for the automotive customers of both partners.
Under the terms of a cross-licensing agreement for the steel grades CP (complex phase) from TKS and NANO HITENTM from JFE, both companies will be able produce the other's material. It is also possible that the parties may establish further joint developments for such high-strength steels in the future.