Increase of the service life by a new laser-generated surface out of hard particle-reinforced composite material

• Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Thomas Seefeld
• Subject Area: Production Automation and Assembly Technology ; Primary Shaping and Reshaping Technology, Additive Manufacturing
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 424737129

The texturing of sheet metal surfaces creates a high-low-microstructure to extend the process limits in sheet metal forming technology by the lubricant pocket effect. This structure is initially set on the roll surfaces using various texuring process, which is then transferred to the sheet surface by plastic deformation during the last operation of the rolling process. The target of the proposed transfer project is the generation of a novel micro geometry for skin pass rolls for cold strip production which provide for manifold new surface textures. Additionally, an extended lifetime of the rolls shall be achieved by the use of hard particles with hardness of up to 3000 HV which allow for replacement of the chromium coatings used today. Knowledge gained within the ongoing project within the SPP 1676 on the realization of a laser generated MMC surface with a high-low structure shall be applied to other materials systems and transferred to industrial application. Challenges may result from the high carbon steel base metal of the rolls which require a matching adaption of the tribological layer system. Hence, the development of the laser processes at BIAS and scaling to industrial dimensions by the application partner Innojoin GmbH, followed by machining and testing under production conditions at an application partner, and transfer of relevant findings back to further process development.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants (Transfer Project)
• Application Partner: Bilstein GmbH & Co. KG; Innojoin GmbH