Kobe Steel has patented an aluminum alloy sheet for automotive structural members, balancing strength, formability, and crushability. The sheet contains specific percentages of Mg, Si, and Cu, with an earing ratio of -13.0% or less. The VDA bending ratio is 95° or more. GlobalData’s report on Kobe Steel gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Kobe Steel, Ore pre-treatment was a key innovation area identified from patents. Kobe Steel's grant share as of May 2024 was 43%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Aluminum alloy sheet for automotive structural member
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US12000026B2) discloses an aluminum alloy sheet designed for automotive structural members. The alloy consists of specific mass percentages of magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), and copper (Cu), with the remainder being aluminum and inevitable impurities. Notably, the alloy's earing ratio is limited to -13.0% or less, and it exhibits a VDA bending ratio of 95° or more, ensuring enhanced structural integrity and formability.
Furthermore, the patent outlines additional variations of the aluminum alloy sheet, specifying ranges for the content of Mg, Si, and other elements like manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), among others. These variations aim to optimize the alloy's mechanical properties, such as bake hardening, where the sheet demonstrates a 0.2% proof stress of 250 MPa or more after a specific artificial aging treatment. Overall, the patented aluminum alloy sheet offers a tailored composition to meet the stringent requirements of automotive structural applications, balancing strength, formability, and other crucial characteristics.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
