Good Formability Despite High Accompanying Element Content of a Modified 20MnB4 Quenched and Tempered Steel

Abstract This article provides a comparative characterization of the mechanical and technological properties of a modified 20MnB4 quenched and tempered steel that are important for further processing. The aim of the modification was to represent the steel as a secondary steel with a significantly increased holding of accompanying elements to be assumed in the future. The aim was to check whether the increased hardening tendency due to increasing levels of accompanying elements can be compensated for by a targeted reduction in the Mn content without negatively affecting through-hardenability and tempering resistance. An industrially available steel was used as a reference condition. The results showed that the reduction of the Mn content contributed to the increase in cold formability, while a strong decrease in effective hardening depth occurred with an insignificant change in tempering behavior.