Method for treating sheet metal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016017457-A1
Application number	US-201514802079-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Jul 24, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for treating sheet metal is disclosed. An amorphous mass containing an alloying element is applied onto a first area of a surface of the metal sheet. A second area of the surface is kept free of the amorphous mass. The amorphous mass and at least the first area of the metal sheet are heated in order to alloy the alloying element into the first area of the metal sheet while the second area remains unalloyed.

First claim

1 .- 13 . (canceled)

14 . A method for treating sheet metal comprising:
a) applying an amorphous mass onto a first area on a surface of a metal sheet such that a second area of the surface is kept free of the amorphous mass, wherein the amorphous mass includes at least one alloying element; and b) heating the amorphous mass and at least the first area on the surface of the metal sheet such that an alloying process is affected to alloy the alloying element into the first area while the second area remains unalloyed.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the heating process is carried out after the application of the amorphous mass onto the metal sheet.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the heating process is carried out by introducing the metal sheet and the amorphous mass into a furnace.

17 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the temperature during the alloying process is lower than the melting temperature of the metal sheet.

18 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising forming the metal sheet during a cooling phase of the metal sheet that follows the alloying process.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the metal sheet is cooled in contact with a forming tool.

20 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising printing the amorphous mass onto the first area.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein printing is performed by one of a gravure printing process, a screen printing process, or by spraying process.

22 . A product assembled of several components, wherein the components comprise a metal sheet treated in a method according to claim 14 , and at least one attachment part fastened on the second area of the metal sheet.

23 . A product assembled of several components, wherein the components comprise a metal sheet according to claim 14 , and at least one attachment part that abuts on the first area of the metal sheet, wherein a difference between the value of the standard potential of the second area and the standard potential of the attachment part is greater than a difference between the value of the standard potential of the first area and the standard potential of the attachment part.

24 . A metal sheet treated in a method according to claim 14 , wherein the first area has a higher load characteristic than the second area.

25 . The metal sheet according to claim 24 , wherein the metal sheet consists of a steel sheet and the alloying element is selected from the group consist of carbon, nitrogen, manganese, silicon, nickel, chrome or combinations thereof.

26 . The metal sheet according to claim 24 , wherein the metal sheet consists of an aluminum sheet and the alloying element is selected from the group consists of copper, zinc, magnesium, silicone, manganese, lithium or combinations thereof.

27 . A product assembled of several components, wherein the components comprise a metal sheet according to claim 24 , and at least one attachment part that is fastened on the second area of the metal sheet.

28 . A product assembled of several components, wherein the components comprise a metal sheet according to claim 24 , and at least one attachment part that abuts on the first area of the metal sheet, wherein a difference between the value of the standard potential of the second area and the standard potential of the attachment part is greater than a difference between the value of the standard potential of the first area and the standard potential of the attachment part.

29 . The product according to claim 28 , wherein the metal sheet is coated at least along a boundary between the first area and the second area.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Baumgart Hartmut
• Sanders Ronald

Classifications

• C22C38/46

  with vanadium · CPC title

• C21D6/008

  containing Si · CPC title

• C21D6/005

  containing Mn · CPC title

• C22C38/42

  with copper · CPC title

• C21D9/46 Primary

  for sheet metals · CPC title