ASTM has approved a standard covering the development of lighter, high-strength steels that have higher alloy content, and more complex hardening mechanisms, than sheets currently being used.

The new standard ASTM A1079 covers Specification for Steel Sheet, Complex Phase, Dual Phase and Transformation Induced Plasticity, Zinc Coated (Galvanized) or Zinc Iron Alloy Coated (Galvannealed) by the Hot Dip Process. The sheets are for the automobile and steel industries.

ASTM A1079 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee A05.11 on Sheet Specifications, part of ASTM International Committee A05 on Metallic Coated Iron and Steel Products.

Mr Gary Dallin director of GalvInfo Center, International Zinc Association and a member of A05, said that "This specification is meant to bring the new class of coated sheet steels into the ASTM system, and at the same time, simplify the numerous company specifications so that users have a better understanding of the chemistry and mechanical properties of the classes and grades available."

Mr Dallin notes that the standard is being written so that automobile manufacturers will be able to adopt it when advanced high-strength steels have been fully developed.

He added that "While this is not expected to happen in the near future, ASTM A1079 will be available so that users and other interested parties can easily become educated about these new steels."

According to Mr Dallin, ASTM A1079 could eventually help the automotive industry simplify production by minimizing the number of steel recipes. The steel grades covered by the standard could eventually be applied to other industry segments, such as construction and machinery.

Source - Metal Powder

(www.steelguru.com)