High strength, low alloy (HSLA) steels for cost-effective automotive lightweighting

HSLA steels have yield strengths greater than 275 MPa (40 ksi) and are typically 20% to 30% lighter than carbon steel at the same strength levels. They are different than other advanced high strength steels (AHSS) as they are named after their yield strength.

HSLA is precipitation-strengthened ferrite and small amounts of pearlite and bainite. With little pearlite and no other hard phases, high strength steels with low alloy have better fineblanking properties than dual phase grades.

Low carbon and low (“lean”) alloy content also gives HSLA steels increased ductility, toughness, and weldability. Their low alloy content — plus no need for post-forming heat treatment — makes these high strength steels with low alloy an economical choice for many automotive body-in-white and chassis applications.

• Higher strengths: from 420 MPa to 800 MPa yield strengths.
• Good fatigue-loading performance: select higher yield strengths for durability-sensitive parts.
• Improved formability, with excellent bendability for the rapid cold-forming of auto parts.
• Weldability — HSLA’s lean composition readily lends itself to virtually all welding processes.
• Greater inherent resistance to atmospheric corrosion than conventional carbon steels.
• Economical lightweighting: a part’s strength can more than double, with a modest premium over using plain carbon steels.
• Struggling with poor edge quality or having difficulty forming a part with crack-free edges? Our high edge (HE) HSLA steel can help.