Microalloyed steel – strong yet highly malleable

Microalloyed steel is characterised by improved strength compared to unalloyed steel grades. These properties result from the addition of small amounts of alloying elements such as niobium, vanadium and titanium, which influence the mechanical properties of the steel.

The resulting steels offer increased strength and toughness, making them an ideal material for numerous robust applications. Despite their hardness, microalloyed steels are still highly formable.

Production, quality grades and applications for microalloyed steel

Microalloyed steel is produced by adding small amounts of selected elements to the molten steel. The alloying elements are added during the steel production process, with the proportion of these elements normally being less than 1%.

In terms of quality grades, microalloyed steels are classified according to the DIN EN 10149 standard. This standard covers hot-rolled flat products made of steel with high yield strength for cold forming. Some of the most common grades according to this standard are, for example, S355MC, S420MC and S460MC. These steels are known for their high strength, good formability and weldability.

As a result, this type of steel is frequently used in the automotive industry. Some examples of applications are vehicle components such as wheel suspensions and various body parts.