Abstract
The present work is the first stage of an ongoing research project concerning with integration of quenching and partitioning heat treatment into the traditional hot stamping process, for 22MnB5 alloy, high Si and high Mn steels, last two proposed for the research with a special chemical composition to enhance Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process. The above, in order to produce a microstructure containing retained austenite and martensite to improve the ductility of resultant components. The investigations of quenching and partitioning process were made by means of dilatometry and hot stamping plus quenching and partitioning (HS - Q&P) process experiments by a special experimental tool. The resulting microstructure was examined using light optical and scanning electron microscope as X-ray diffraction too. Some results obtained shown that compared with conventional hot stamping samples, the HS-Q&P process improves elongation effectively and maintains high-strength at the same time.
