• The 4-year project resulted in the successful manufacture and testing of a minitractor cabin demonstrating a weight reduction of more than 60% compared to traditional steels.
• Such efforts to lightweight vehicles are a crucial element of the drive for greater environmental and economic sustainability in the steel production and transportation sectors.

THE IMDEA Materials-coordinated DELIGHTED project has been praised for delivering “exceptional results” in its successful efforts to develop Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) for lightweight vehicle applications.

The comments were contained within the European Commission’s (EC) final report on the project, which also highlighted the “significant immediate or potential impact” of DELIGHTED’s research, particularly regarding the characterisation of lightweight steel alloys.

The DELIGHTED (Design of Lightweight Steels for Industrial Applications ref. no. 899332) project kicked off in 2020 and has involved a collaborative international effort between the German Max Planck Institute, steel producer ArcelorMittal (OCAS NV), Ghent University, Politecnico di Milano and IMDEA Materials.

The project resulted in the successful design, manufacture and testing of a minitractor cabin based on the alloys and process and thermal treatments developed over the past 4 years.  The resulting prototype designed by Politecnico di Milano team demonstrated a weight reduction of more than 60% compared to conventional structure steel while withstanding Roll-Over Protective System (ROPS) crushing tests with promising results.

“One of the most important aspects of this project is that we designed the materials and processes with consideration not only for mechanical properties but also for in-service properties,” commented Dr. Ilchat Sabirov, Coordinator of the DELIGHTED project. “These include fatigue and fracture performance, weldability, formability, and crash resistance, as well as manufacturing requirements.”

DELIGHTED focused on austenitic Fe-Al-Mn-C quaternary alloys, a class of advanced steel alloys known for their unique combination of mechanical properties including excellent ductility and toughness.

By gaining a fundamental understanding of the principles of the microstructural design for the engineering of these austenitic lightweight steels, the project was able to develop a new alloy with optimal mechanical and performance properties for automotive applications.

“The project results will support the use of AHSS steel, in particular for the construction and manufacturing of vehicles,” stated the EC final report.

Triggered by environmental concerns and the drive for sustainability, the European Union, and funding bodies such as the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, are actively pursuing research to develop low-cost, lightweight steels.

These steels promise reduced carbon emissions and resource use, while enhancing economic efficiency across industries like automotive, construction, and aerospace.

Find out more about this project, here.

The DELIGHTED project has received funding from the European Union’s Research Fund for Coal and Steel under grant agreement nº 899332.