Breakthroughs in Automotive Steel Overcome Two World‑Class Technical Barriers

Breakthroughs in Automotive Steel Overcome Two World‑Class Technical Barriers

Shandong Iron and Steel Rizhao Company has joined forces with Great Wall Motors to tackle cracking defects in galvanized hot‑formed steel, a long‑term industry bottleneck. Meanwhile, Shanghai University and Baigong Steel have realized the world’s‑first industrial mass‑production of low‑density medium‑manganese steel. Though both achievements focus on automotive steel, we, as peers from the steel pipe sector, should also be greatly encouraged. These milestones represent the growing confidence of China’s entire steel industry.

I.Four‑Year‑Long Effort Finally Conquers LME‑induced Cracking

Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) cracking of zinc‑coated hot‑formed steel has long been a stubborn technical obstacle, which once restricted domestic supply of high‑end hot‑formed steel and created import‑dependent bottlenecks. 

After four years of joint research, Shandong Steel Rizhao and Great Wall Motors adopted the Leidenfrost effect in water‑bath treatment, fundamentally eliminating micro‑cracks before the hot‑stamping process. 

The material has now been applied to the Great Wall V9X vehicle model, bringing multiple benefits including improved spot‑welding quality, enhanced anti‑corrosion performance for car bodies and reduced energy consumption of forming dies.

II.World‑First Milestone: Low‑density Medium‑manganese Steel Achieves Mass‑production

Shanghai University and Baigong Steel have completed stable continuous casting and rolling at a hundred‑ton production scale. The new steel grade features a 5%‑15% lower density than conventional steel and is regarded as a next‑generation core material for automotive lightweighting. 

Numerous developers had been held back by tough problems such as continuous‑casting cracks and a narrow rolling‑process window. The team has successfully overcome these difficulties and completed the leap from laboratory research to large‑scale industrial production.

III.Confidence in Technology Behind the Breakthroughs for Industry Peers

The most inspiring value of these two projects lies not merely in individual corporate victories, but in solid proof that Chinese teams are fully capable of breaking through high‑end steel bottlenecks previously controlled by overseas suppliers.

Success in automotive steel‑making opens up new possibilities for steel pipe, section steel and special‑steel manufacturers. High‑end product development is no longer an unreachable goal; challenges conquered by other enterprises through years‑long efforts can also be overcome by us.

IV.Inspiration for Steel‑pipe Manufacturers: Lightweight and High‑performance Products Are Shared Industry Trends

As automotive lightweighting accelerates, market demand for high‑strength, lightweight steel pipes will keep rising. Both process innovation and industry‑university‑research cooperation have been proven as viable development paths. 

Price competition always has its lower limit, yet technological upgrading has no ceiling. 

Instead of worrying about market pressure, steel‑industry peers should encourage one another. Every major industrial upgrade creates new opportunities. The next major technological breakthrough may well be achieved by our own teams.