Advancing chassis with Docol® AHSS
The Docol® product portfolio of hot-rolled advanced high strength steel allows for new, innovative chassis components.
A chassis material
When it comes to chassis components, many have design properties that are in the range where hot rolled steel may be more suitable than cold rolled steel. One of the biggest reasons for this is thickness. Cold rolled steels are generally only available with thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 2.1 mm, whereas hot rolled steel products go beyond, from 2.0 up to 6.0 mm.
In addition to a wide thickness range, Docol® hot rolled AHSS makes it possible to drastically increase the tensile strength in a component, while reducing the amount of material needed to produce it. This can result in a significant reduction in weight, while achieving the same performance and a lower cost, thanks to less material needed overall.
In addition to a wide thickness range, Docol® hot rolled AHSS makes it possible to drastically increase the tensile strength in a component, while reducing the amount of material needed to produce it. This can result in a significant reduction in weight, while achieving the same performance and a lower cost, thanks to less material needed overall.
More than weight savings
However, the advantages of utilizing high strength hot rolled steel for chassis components like torsion beams, control arms and chassis frames goes further. High tensile strength and an optimized microstructure also give excellent fatigue properties. Strength levels up to 1200 MPa are available and steel is the most cost efficient light weight material. Overall, the complexity and high integration level that chassis require today can be solved with steel.
The Docol® hot rolled offering
The state-of-the-art cooling line for hot rolled steel at SSAB allows for many more grades of hot rolled AHSS, with high consistency. Many years of adjusting and improving our hot rolled processes have led to a reputation as a quality producer.
The range of Docol® hot rolled steels is extensive, with many more grades currently in development, including steels like complex phase (CP), martensitic steel (M), press hardening steels (PHS) as well as grades with improved hole expansion and the new 3rd generations steels. Each can provide characteristics that are interesting for chassis applications.
The range of Docol® hot rolled steels is extensive, with many more grades currently in development, including steels like complex phase (CP), martensitic steel (M), press hardening steels (PHS) as well as grades with improved hole expansion and the new 3rd generations steels. Each can provide characteristics that are interesting for chassis applications.
Docol® customer cases for chassis components
Advanced high strength steel helps lighten a chassis
A leading manufacturer of stamped automotive parts in the United States was challenged to come up with a front-suspension upper-control arm (UCA) for the automotive giant Chrysler. To reduce the weight of this component, the company turned to a higher strength steel.
Related products
Automotive steel and automotive industry applications
Docol® steel grades are being used by OEMs and tier suppliers in millions of vehicles around the world, in a range of components and applications. Partnering with our customers, we help them develop stronger, lighter, and more emissions-efficient steel solutions for the entire life cycle of their products — solutions that help drive the industry forward.
