AD&P; > July 2014 > NOTABLE
18
Greener Steel.
These guys are looking at a piece of
outer-body grade sheet steel with a
zinc-magnesium (ZM) coating that
is said by its developer, ThyssenKrupp
Steel Europe ( thyssenkrupp-steel-
europe.com ), to be benefcial from
both product and process standpoints,
and provide an environmental beneft
to boot by conserving resources.
Compared to conventional corrosion-
protection coatings, the ZM can be
reduced by about a third, or, they
calculate, about a 4.4-lb zinc savings
per midsize car. As regards process:
the surface is harder, so there is less
die abrasion in standing. In addition to
which, because the coating is thinner,
welding is easier. The material is
ofered in two types, ZM EcoProtect,
which is said to be comparable in
surface fnish to hot-dipped galvanized
parts, and ZM PrimeProtect, which
has a better fnish, which means
better paint fnishes can be realized.
The materials were developed by
researchers at ThyssenKrupp Steel
Europe facilities in Duisburg and
Dortmund,Germany.
0714ADP Notable -- Digital Version.indd 18 6/17/2014 1:13:54 PM