WorldAutoSteel Phase 2 Liquid Metal Embrittlement Component Study Now Available
Latest study a follow-on to 2020 report; results confirm LME is predictable and preventable.
In automotive manufacturing, ensuring the durability and safety of vehicle welds is essential. With Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) as a standard for enhancing vehicle performance, understanding and mitigating Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) – which can create surface cracks in welded joints – is critical.
In 2017, WorldAutoSteel launched a three-year technical research project with leading engineering institutions Laboratory of Materials and Joining Technology (LWF) at Paderborn University in Germany, the Institute de Soudure in Yutz, France, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology (IPK) in Berlin to investigate LME by understanding root causes and how to mitigate its effects. Results revealed that when using standard welding techniques and equipment, the occurrence of liquid metal embrittlement was shown to be both highly unlikely and extremely low risk in the AHSS materials tested.
WorldAutoSteel’s new Phase 2 LME Component Study, offers new insights into mitigating LME in real-world applications. Conducted in collaboration with LWF and Fraunhofer, the study investigates whether solutions developed from academic samples can be used in real parts and whether LME presents any unique characteristics in full components compared to isolated tests.
Key Takeaways from the Liquid Metal Embrittlement Study – Phase 2:
- Redefined Risk: Advances in metallurgy and welding reduce AHSS’s sensitivity to LME, lowering the risk of brittle fractures.
- Confidence in AHSS: Manufacturers can confidently select any AHSS grade, knowing that LME risk is minimal.
- Advanced Predictive Tools: New simulation techniques allow manufacturers to foresee and address LME risks early in the design process.
- Optimized Processes: Identified strategies help manufacturers minimize LME risk during production.