EP2369020A1 - Method for treating a metal element for an automobile - Google Patents

Method for treating a metal element for an automobile Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2369020A1
EP2369020A1 EP10156581A EP10156581A EP2369020A1 EP 2369020 A1 EP2369020 A1 EP 2369020A1 EP 10156581 A EP10156581 A EP 10156581A EP 10156581 A EP10156581 A EP 10156581A EP 2369020 A1 EP2369020 A1 EP 2369020A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
metal element
treating
ultrasonic
hardening
coating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP10156581A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2369020B1 (en
Inventor
Leonid Levinski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
THERMISSION AG
Original Assignee
Z A T ZINC ANTICOROSION TECHNOLOGIES SA
Zat Zinc Anticorosion Technologies SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Z A T ZINC ANTICOROSION TECHNOLOGIES SA, Zat Zinc Anticorosion Technologies SA filed Critical Z A T ZINC ANTICOROSION TECHNOLOGIES SA
Priority to EP10156581.0A priority Critical patent/EP2369020B1/en
Publication of EP2369020A1 publication Critical patent/EP2369020A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2369020B1 publication Critical patent/EP2369020B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/62—Quenching devices
    • C21D1/673—Quenching devices for die quenching

Definitions

  • the invention refers to a method for treating a metal element for an automobile.
  • a metal element can be a component of the automobile body or automobile frame made out of a metal sheet as well as a massive metal element of the automobile, such as a bolt, a spring or another massive component not made out of a metal sheet.
  • the metal element has to have a high strength and good anti-corrosive qualities.
  • the metal element is heated in an oven to a temperature of 550°C to 1200°C, and is subsequently quickly cooled down to a temperature below 22C°C in an oil bath or by cooled air.
  • a so called press-hardening process the metal element is heated to a temperature of 800°C to 1000°C and is formed into its end shape by pressing and cooled in a press subsequent to the heating.
  • the hardened metal element has a very high strength and allows to produce relatively light metal elements for the automobile. Subsequent to the hardening, the hardened high strength metal element is made anti-corrosive by means of a surface treatment or a surface coating step.
  • the heated metal element On the way from the hardening oven to the oil bath or to the press, the heated metal element is, because the high temperature difference with the environment, subject to scaling so that the scale has to be removed from the metal element before the metal element is passed to the surface treatment or surface coating step.
  • a classic method for scale removing is pickling in a cleaning liquid with a strong acid, for example with sulphuric acid. With this scale removing method, even the smallest structures, such as slits, hollow spaces, undercuts etc. are removed from scale. But using a strong acid has the disadvantage that the treated high strength metal element becomes brittle.
  • An alternative method for scale removing is shot blasting which does not effect the inner structure of the metal element but is not suitable to remove scale from small structures, slits, undercuts etc. In addition, the shot blasting stream can mechanically deform a sheet-made metal element.
  • the metal element is first hardened.
  • the hardening step can be accomplished by heating the metal element in an oven to a temperature of about 550°C to 1200°C. After heating, the metal element is quickly cooled down to a temperature below 200°C in an oil bath or by cooled air. On the way from the heating oven to the oil bath or to a press for providing a press-hardening step, the metal element is subject to scaling.
  • the scale removing step is provided by an ultrasonic process, whereby the ultrasonic liquid is a water solution with an organic carboxylic with the concentration of 0,1 to 10 vol.%.
  • the metal element is coated in a coating process with an anticorrosion coating.
  • This coating process can be realized, for example, by a so-called thermo diffusion process with zinc powder.
  • the organic carboxylic acid concentration is between 1,0 and 6,0 vol.%, and preferably between 2,0 and 6,0 vol.%.
  • the organic carboxylic acid is a citric acid.
  • the ultrasonic liquid has a pH value between 3,0 and 5,0.
  • the ultrasonic frequency during the ultrasonic cleaning sequence is between 18 kHz and 60 kHz, whereby the ultrasonic frequency can be a varied during the complete ultrasonic scale removing sequence.
  • the ultrasonic activity is provided in intervals with numerous interruptions of less than 30% during the ultrasonic process step.
  • the scale removing sequence can take between one and eight minutes.
  • the temperature of the ultrasonic liquid is between 30 and 70°C. In this temperature range, the ultrasonic liquid is very effective.
  • the metal element is moved with respect to the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic cleaning sequence.
  • the metal element is rotated in the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic treatment.
  • the metal element is rotated by a rotor in the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic treatment.
  • the rotor holds the metal element in a rotor cradle or with rotor fingers attached to the metal element.
  • the metal element is a complex structural automobile element
  • a metal element to be treated can be any metal automobile component which has to have high strength and good anticorrosive qualifies, Especially automobile components made out of thin metal sheets but also massive parts as springs and bolts are predestinated to be treated accordingly.
  • the following example refers to a sheet-like metal element which is formed to a component of the automobile body or automobile frame.
  • the metal sheet element is transferred to a hardening oven wherein the metal sheet element is heated to a temperature of 700°C to 1000°C in an oven, and subsequently is formed into its end shape by pressing under high pressure in a press-hardening press. As soon as the heated metal sheet element is removed from the oven, the metal sheet element is subject to scaling on the way to the press so that the metal sheet element is covered with a layer of scale after leaving the press-hardening oven. After the press-hardening step in the press, the press is opened, and the metal sheet element is removed from the press.
  • the scale layer Before the metal sheet element is transferred to a coating step for coating the high strength metal sheet element with an anticorrosion coating, the scale layer has to be removed from the metal sheet element.
  • the scale removing step is carried out in a scale removing device, wherein the high strength metal sheet element is fixed to a rotor which rotates the metal sheet element in an ultrasonic liquid.
  • the ultrasonic liquid is a water solution with an organic carboxylic acid with a concentration of about 4,0 vol%, Preferably, the acid is a citric acid.
  • the ultrasonic liquid has a temperature of about 50°C and a pH value of 4.
  • an ultrasonic element induces ultrasonic waves into the ultrasonic liquid.
  • the frequency of the ultrasonic waves varies between 20 kHz and 40 kHz, and is provided in intervals of for example 50 seconds separated by interruptions of 10 seconds.
  • the metal sheet element is rotated by the rotor in the ultrasonic liquid. The ultrasonic treatment of one metal sheet element takes about 5 minutes in total.
  • the metal sheet element is removed from the ultrasonic scale removing device, and is transferred to a coating process step whereby the metal sheet element is provided with an anticorrosion treatment by a so-called thermo diffusion process with zinc powder.

Abstract

The invention refers to a method for treating a metal element for an automobile. The method comprises the steps:
Press-hardening the metal element,
removing scale from the press hardened metal element in an ultrasonic liquid by an ultrasonic process, whereby the ultrasonic liquid is a water solution with an organic carboxylic acid with a concentration of 0,1 to 10 vol. %, and
coating the metal element in a coating process with an anti-corrosion coating.

Description

  • The invention refers to a method for treating a metal element for an automobile.
  • A metal element can be a component of the automobile body or automobile frame made out of a metal sheet as well as a massive metal element of the automobile, such as a bolt, a spring or another massive component not made out of a metal sheet. The metal element has to have a high strength and good anti-corrosive qualities.
  • For increasing the metal element strength, the metal element is heated in an oven to a temperature of 550°C to 1200°C, and is subsequently quickly cooled down to a temperature below 22C°C in an oil bath or by cooled air. In a so called press-hardening process, the metal element is heated to a temperature of 800°C to 1000°C and is formed into its end shape by pressing and cooled in a press subsequent to the heating. The hardened metal element has a very high strength and allows to produce relatively light metal elements for the automobile. Subsequent to the hardening, the hardened high strength metal element is made anti-corrosive by means of a surface treatment or a surface coating step.
  • On the way from the hardening oven to the oil bath or to the press, the heated metal element is, because the high temperature difference with the environment, subject to scaling so that the scale has to be removed from the metal element before the metal element is passed to the surface treatment or surface coating step. A classic method for scale removing is pickling in a cleaning liquid with a strong acid, for example with sulphuric acid. With this scale removing method, even the smallest structures, such as slits, hollow spaces, undercuts etc. are removed from scale. But using a strong acid has the disadvantage that the treated high strength metal element becomes brittle. An alternative method for scale removing is shot blasting which does not effect the inner structure of the metal element but is not suitable to remove scale from small structures, slits, undercuts etc. In addition, the shot blasting stream can mechanically deform a sheet-made metal element.
  • It is an object of the invention to improve the scale removing from a automobile metal element between the hardening step and the subsequent coating step.
  • This object is, according to the invention, solved with the features of claim 1.
  • According to claim 1, the metal element is first hardened. The hardening step can be accomplished by heating the metal element in an oven to a temperature of about 550°C to 1200°C. After heating, the metal element is quickly cooled down to a temperature below 200°C in an oil bath or by cooled air. On the way from the heating oven to the oil bath or to a press for providing a press-hardening step, the metal element is subject to scaling.
  • Subsequent to the hardening step, the scale removing step is provided by an ultrasonic process, whereby the ultrasonic liquid is a water solution with an organic carboxylic with the concentration of 0,1 to 10 vol.%.
  • As experiments have shown, such a water solution does not significantly affect the metal elements surface, and in particular does not make the metal element brittle. On the other hand, the ultrasonic cleaning method guarantees that the scale is completely removed even from small structures, slits, hollow spaces, undercuts etc.
  • Subsequent to the scale removing step, the metal element is coated in a coating process with an anticorrosion coating. This coating process can be realized, for example, by a so-called thermo diffusion process with zinc powder.
  • According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the organic carboxylic acid concentration is between 1,0 and 6,0 vol.%, and preferably between 2,0 and 6,0 vol.%. According to a preferred embodiment, the organic carboxylic acid is a citric acid.
  • Preferably, the ultrasonic liquid has a pH value between 3,0 and 5,0.
  • According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is the ultrasonic frequency during the ultrasonic cleaning sequence is between 18 kHz and 60 kHz, whereby the ultrasonic frequency can be a varied during the complete ultrasonic scale removing sequence. Preferably, the ultrasonic activity is provided in intervals with numerous interruptions of less than 30% during the ultrasonic process step. The scale removing sequence can take between one and eight minutes.
  • Preferably, the temperature of the ultrasonic liquid is between 30 and 70°C. In this temperature range, the ultrasonic liquid is very effective.
  • According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal element is moved with respect to the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic cleaning sequence. Preferably, the metal element is rotated in the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic treatment. Preferably, the metal element is rotated by a rotor in the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic treatment. The rotor holds the metal element in a rotor cradle or with rotor fingers attached to the metal element.
  • Preferably, the metal element is a complex structural automobile element,
  • The following is a description of one embodiment of the method according to the invention.
  • A metal element to be treated can be any metal automobile component which has to have high strength and good anticorrosive qualifies, Especially automobile components made out of thin metal sheets but also massive parts as springs and bolts are predestinated to be treated accordingly. The following example refers to a sheet-like metal element which is formed to a component of the automobile body or automobile frame.
  • In a hardening step, the metal sheet element is transferred to a hardening oven wherein the metal sheet element is heated to a temperature of 700°C to 1000°C in an oven, and subsequently is formed into its end shape by pressing under high pressure in a press-hardening press. As soon as the heated metal sheet element is removed from the oven, the metal sheet element is subject to scaling on the way to the press so that the metal sheet element is covered with a layer of scale after leaving the press-hardening oven. After the press-hardening step in the press, the press is opened, and the metal sheet element is removed from the press.
  • Before the metal sheet element is transferred to a coating step for coating the high strength metal sheet element with an anticorrosion coating, the scale layer has to be removed from the metal sheet element.
  • The scale removing step is carried out in a scale removing device, wherein the high strength metal sheet element is fixed to a rotor which rotates the metal sheet element in an ultrasonic liquid. The ultrasonic liquid is a water solution with an organic carboxylic acid with a concentration of about 4,0 vol%, Preferably, the acid is a citric acid. The ultrasonic liquid has a temperature of about 50°C and a pH value of 4.
  • As soon as the metal sheet element is fixed to the rotor and immersed into the ultrasonic liquid, the scale removing process starts: an ultrasonic element induces ultrasonic waves into the ultrasonic liquid. The frequency of the ultrasonic waves varies between 20 kHz and 40 kHz, and is provided in intervals of for example 50 seconds separated by interruptions of 10 seconds. During the complete ultrasonic treatment step, the metal sheet element is rotated by the rotor in the ultrasonic liquid. The ultrasonic treatment of one metal sheet element takes about 5 minutes in total.
  • After the scale removing step is finished, the metal sheet element is removed from the ultrasonic scale removing device, and is transferred to a coating process step whereby the metal sheet element is provided with an anticorrosion treatment by a so-called thermo diffusion process with zinc powder.

Claims (17)

1. Method for treating a metal element for an automobile, with the steps:
hardening the metal element,
removing scale from the press hardened metal element in an ultrasonic liquid by an ultrasonic process, whereby the ultrasonic liquid is a water solution with an organic carboxylic acid with a concentration of 0,1 to 10 vol. %, and
coating the metal element in a coating process with an anti-corrosion coating.
2. Method for treating a metal element of claim 1, wherein the hardening step is realized by press-hardening.
3. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the organic carboxylic acid concentration is between 1,0 and 8,0 vol.%.
4. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the organic carboxylic acid concentration is between 2,0 and 6,0 vol.%.
5. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the organic carboxylic acid is a citric acid.
6. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the ultrasonic liquid has a pH-value between 3,0 and 5,0.
7. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claim, wherein the ultrasonic frequency during the ultrasonic process step is between 18 kHz and 60 kHz.
8. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claim, wherein the ultrasonic frequency is varied during the complete ultrasonic process step.
9. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the ultrasonic activity is provided in intervals with numerous interruptions of less than 30% during the ultrasonic process step.
10. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning sequence takes 1 to 8 minutes.
12. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature of the ultrasonic liquid is between +30 and +70°C.
13. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal element is moved with respect to the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic process step.
14. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal element is rotated in the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic process step.
15. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claim, wherein the metal element is rotated by a rotor in the ultrasonic liquid during the ultrasonic process step.
16. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal element is a complex structural automobile element which is hardened by press-hardening.
17. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal element is a massive element which is hardened by heating and subsequently cooling in an oil bath.
18. Method for treating a metal element of one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating is realized by a thermal-diffusion procedure with zinc powder.
EP10156581.0A 2010-03-16 2010-03-16 Method for treating a metal element for an automobile Not-in-force EP2369020B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10156581.0A EP2369020B1 (en) 2010-03-16 2010-03-16 Method for treating a metal element for an automobile

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10156581.0A EP2369020B1 (en) 2010-03-16 2010-03-16 Method for treating a metal element for an automobile

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2369020A1 true EP2369020A1 (en) 2011-09-28
EP2369020B1 EP2369020B1 (en) 2016-10-05

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EP10156581.0A Not-in-force EP2369020B1 (en) 2010-03-16 2010-03-16 Method for treating a metal element for an automobile

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018078484A1 (en) 2016-10-26 2018-05-03 Thermission Ag Method for applying a layer structure by thermodiffusion to a metallic or intermetallic surface
EP3045567B1 (en) * 2015-01-16 2022-08-31 Eural Gnutti S.p.A. Method for the production and pickling of aluminum bars

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4401479A (en) * 1981-03-12 1983-08-30 Quick Nathaniel R Apparatus and method for processing wire stand cable for use in prestressed concrete structures
US6277799B1 (en) * 1999-06-25 2001-08-21 International Business Machines Corporation Aqueous cleaning of paste residue
US20020197491A1 (en) * 1999-11-29 2002-12-26 Jens Rocks Addition-crosslinking silicone rubber mixtures
US20060131185A1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2006-06-22 Lev Leonid C Gear surface treatment procedure
US20060137779A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2006-06-29 Martin Brodt Press-hardened part and method for the production thereof
US20060219334A1 (en) * 2003-07-22 2006-10-05 Daimlerchrysler Ag Press-hardened component and associated production method
US20080202550A1 (en) * 2004-02-24 2008-08-28 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Transmission of Ultrasonic Energy into Pressurized Fluids
JP2008222823A (en) * 2007-03-12 2008-09-25 Adeka Corp Detergent composition for metal die, and washing method for metal die

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4401479A (en) * 1981-03-12 1983-08-30 Quick Nathaniel R Apparatus and method for processing wire stand cable for use in prestressed concrete structures
US6277799B1 (en) * 1999-06-25 2001-08-21 International Business Machines Corporation Aqueous cleaning of paste residue
US20020197491A1 (en) * 1999-11-29 2002-12-26 Jens Rocks Addition-crosslinking silicone rubber mixtures
US20060137779A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2006-06-29 Martin Brodt Press-hardened part and method for the production thereof
US20060219334A1 (en) * 2003-07-22 2006-10-05 Daimlerchrysler Ag Press-hardened component and associated production method
US20080202550A1 (en) * 2004-02-24 2008-08-28 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Transmission of Ultrasonic Energy into Pressurized Fluids
US20060131185A1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2006-06-22 Lev Leonid C Gear surface treatment procedure
JP2008222823A (en) * 2007-03-12 2008-09-25 Adeka Corp Detergent composition for metal die, and washing method for metal die

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3045567B1 (en) * 2015-01-16 2022-08-31 Eural Gnutti S.p.A. Method for the production and pickling of aluminum bars
WO2018078484A1 (en) 2016-10-26 2018-05-03 Thermission Ag Method for applying a layer structure by thermodiffusion to a metallic or intermetallic surface

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