{"id":3223,"date":"2015-12-11T07:53:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-11T07:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.74.50.173\/2015\/12\/super-strong-flash-bainite-stee.html"},"modified":"2017-04-07T03:29:26","modified_gmt":"2017-04-07T03:29:26","slug":"super-strong-flash-bainite-steel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextbigfuture.com\/2015\/12\/super-strong-flash-bainite-steel.html","title":{"rendered":"Super Strong Flash Bainite steel update"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Flash\u00ae Bainite system produces the highest overall performing and readily weldable structural metal ever created. It\u2019s lightweight, durable, and has an optimal microstructure.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Flash Bainite process takes regular, off-the-shelf commercial AISI1020 carbon steel, and instead of heat treating it for 10 minutes like costly alloyed steel,<\/a> you put it through a roller-driven system that induction-heats and liquid-cools the steel in a matter of 10 seconds or so.<\/p>\n

Nextbigfuture covered Flash Bainite back in 2011<\/a><\/p>\n

More than a decade ago, Gary Cola was a machine shop owner whose hobby was exploring heat treating to make high strength steel. Today, he has created a company that can have a significant impact on the lightweighting of passenger and military vehicles.<\/p>\n

Cola is the founder of Flash\u00ae Bainite, a Michigan-based company and SME member of LIFT. Flash Processing is a patented, compact and low-cost induction heat treatment that creates 1600 to 2100MPa steel that is uniquely strong, readily weldable, and lean alloyed. Just as important, Flash Bainite exhibits good bend-ability and ductility for room temperature stamping, a significant cost savings over hot stamping.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to have a positive impact on the strength and form-ability of steel is critical,\u201d Cola said. With total cycle time less than10s, Flash Processing creates about 20 percent bainite in the steel in just 80 milliseconds, which defies long-held beliefs.<\/p>\n

Not only can our process create the highest performing steel available, but the Flash\u00ae Bainite system can be directly integrated into many manufacturing processes. This cost-effective solution for strengthening steel is turning the steel industry on its head. With our patented system, even the smallest production shop can produce steel that previously required the capabilities of a five-hundred million dollar enterprise, all for tiny a fraction of the cost. Our system will also allow you to harden your steel after it has been roll formed, preserving its structural integrity and producing a superior product.<\/p>\n

With superior weldability, lighter weight, improved workability, and strength levels never before seen.<\/p>\n

Flash 1500 could offer a one third mass reduction and cost savings over the ‘industry standard’ DP1000 known at the time to be the strongest hydroformable tube,” Cola says. “During this development, it was discovered that Flash 1500 (Flash-processed AISI1020) could be formed into very tight bends, almost as tight as simply folding a sheet of paper.”<\/p>\n

In Flash 1500 energy absorbing crush in this story’s lead image, the bends are twice the strength of the DP780 cans in cars today.<\/p>\n

Another major manufacturer “that makes 10 million vehicles per year,” according to Cola, tested Flash-processed steel on a structural\/safety component of a car that is 3 mm thick and 3 lb (1.4 kg) in weight in its current form. Using the flash treatment, a part was created that weighs 2 lb (0.9 kg) at 2 mm thick, and passes all the same tests \u2013 and the OEM estimated it could be made at a cost savings<\/p>\n