Project Info
Implementation of New Advanced Steels in Automobiles
John Speer | jspeer@mines.edu
Some brand new families of advanced high strength steels are being designed into new automobile models. New manufacturing challenges are being identified, including an embrittlement phenomenon associated with the penetration of liquid zinc into the base steel microstructure during spot welding of corrosion resistant (galvanized, or Zn-coated) variants of these steels. Mines is at the forefront of the developement of these steels, and is studying the behaviors of these materials under conditions related to manufacturing, and the undergraduate fellowship project will contribute by helping to assess microstructure changes in the advanced steels that occur during vehicle manufacturing. These advanced steels will likely be deployed in other (non-automotive) applications at a later time.
More Information
D. Bhattacharya, “Liquid Metal Embrittlement during Resistance Spot Welding of Zn-Coated High-Strength Steels,” Materials Science and Technology, vol. 34, no. 15, 2018, pp. 1809-1829.
D. Bhattacharya, L. Cho, H. Ghassemi-Armaki, E. van der Aa, A. Pichler, K.O. Findley and J.G. Speer, “Quantitative Assessment of the Characteristics of Liquid Metal Embrittlement During Resistance Spot Welding of Zn-Coated High Strength Steels, Proceedings of the Sheet Metal Welding Conference XVIII , Livonia, MI October 17-18, 2018, pp. 1-10.
Grand Engineering Challenge: Restore and improve urban infrastructure
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Interest and a desire to contribute. Interest in metals, microstructures, advanced manufacturing, and automobiles.
Time Commitment
20 hours/month
Skills/Techniques Gained
Electropolishing, x-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy (including specimen preparation techniques)
Mentoring Plan
My PhD student and I will supervise the student. Training on laboratory methods will be provided by professional resources where appropriate, or by graduate students working within the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center.