Steel Usibor 1500 · heat-treated state
Steel Usibor 1500-PHS
Properties of the PHS condition, compared with the other Usibor 1500 tempers.
The in-service condition of every hot-stamped part: maximum strength and intrusion resistance, but almost no ductility, no cold forming and laser trimming only.
What is Usibor 1500-PHS?
Usibor 1500-PHS is Usibor 1500 heat treated to PHS — the in-service condition of every hot-stamped part: maximum strength and intrusion resistance, but almost no ductility, no cold forming and laser trimming only. Usibor 1500-PHS has a yield strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi). Usibor 1500-PHS has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,490°C (2,714 °F). Aluminized is the default condition FabDigit quotes; PHS is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 35/100, better than 97% of steel grades
- High strength — 1,100 MPa (160 ksi), better than 93% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 93% of steel grades
Usibor 1500-PHS properties
Typical room-temperature values for Usibor 1500-PHS — 19 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Usibor 1500 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Usibor 1500-PHS has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,490°C (2,714 °F).
Mechanical13
Usibor 1500-PHS has a yield strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 207 GPa (30 Msi).
Thermal6
Usibor 1500-PHS is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 31 W/m·K (17.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 82% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.5 µm/m·K (6.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Usibor 1500-PHS conducts electricity at 8.6 % IACS, better than 66% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), better than 97% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Usibor 1500-PHS takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.4 kg of CO₂ — more than 55% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
Usibor 1500-PHS's machinability is poor (15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades); weldability good (55/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Usibor 1500 tempers and conditions
Usibor 1500 is also supplied in 3 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Usibor 1500 overview.
- AluminizedDefaultStandard supply condition for hot-stamping lines: soft enough to blank and pre-form, coating prevents scaling in the austenitizing furnace.400 MPa yield · 180 HB
- PHSThe in-service condition of every hot-stamped part: maximum strength and intrusion resistance, but almost no ductility, no cold forming and laser trimming only.1,100 MPa yield · 48 HRC
Working with Usibor 1500-PHS
Is Usibor 1500 easy to machine?
Blank and pierce in the as-delivered soft state; after press hardening use laser cutting or CBN/ceramic hard trimming — conventional drilling/milling of 480 HV martensite is impractical.
Can Usibor 1500 be welded?
Resistance spot welding is production-proven (higher current/longer weld time than uncoated steel); for laser welding of blanks the Al-Si layer must be ablated to avoid brittle Fe-Al intermetallics in the fusion zone; avoid arc welding on hardened parts (HAZ softening).
Can Usibor 1500 be formed, bent or molded?
Direct hot stamping: austenitize 900–950 °C for 3–6 min, transfer in <10 s, form and quench in cooled dies at >27 °C/s to full martensite; springback is minimal but cooling-rate control drives final strength.
What surface finishes work on Usibor 1500?
Al-Si coating tolerates phosphating/e-coat with adapted pretreatment; shot blasting of coated parts is not needed, cut edges and welds must be sealed/painted since the coating is not sacrificial.
Usibor 1500 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C22MnB5 base | 0.19 – 0.25 | 0.22 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | 1.1 – 1.4 | 1.25 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Albase metal, excluding Al-Si coating | 0.02 – 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Cr | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Tiprotects boron from N | 0.02 – 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Bhardenability | 0 – 0.01 | 0 |
| N | ≤ 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance | — |
Usibor 1500-PHS — frequently asked
What is Usibor 1500-PHS used for?
Usibor 1500-PHS is typically used for A- and B-pillar reinforcements, door impact beams, bumper beams, roof rails and side sills, tunnel and floor cross members and front and rear longitudinal rails. In short: aluminized hot-stamping boron.
What is the yield strength of Usibor 1500-PHS?
Usibor 1500-PHS has a typical yield strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,550 MPa (225 ksi) — stronger than 93% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Usibor 1500-PHS easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (15/100, worse than 98% of steel grades). Blank and pierce in the as-delivered soft state; after press hardening use laser cutting or CBN/ceramic hard trimming — conventional drilling/milling of 480 HV martensite is impractical.
Can Usibor 1500-PHS be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Resistance spot welding is production-proven (higher current/longer weld time than uncoated steel); for laser welding of blanks the Al-Si layer must be ablated to avoid brittle Fe-Al intermetallics in the fusion zone; avoid arc welding on hardened parts (HAZ softening).
What surface finishes work on Usibor 1500-PHS?
Al-Si coating tolerates phosphating/e-coat with adapted pretreatment; shot blasting of coated parts is not needed, cut edges and welds must be sealed/painted since the coating is not sacrificial.
Can Usibor 1500-PHS be formed, bent or molded?
Direct hot stamping: austenitize 900–950 °C for 3–6 min, transfer in <10 s, form and quench in cooled dies at >27 °C/s to full martensite; springback is minimal but cooling-rate control drives final strength.
What is the maximum service temperature of Usibor 1500-PHS?
Usibor 1500-PHS is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Usibor 1500 Aluminized and Usibor 1500-PHS?
Aluminized is the default condition — standard supply condition for hot-stamping lines: soft enough to blank and pre-form, coating prevents scaling in the austenitizing furnace. PHS: the in-service condition of every hot-stamped part: maximum strength and intrusion resistance, but almost no ductility, no cold forming and laser trimming only. Yield strength is 400 MPa in Aluminized versus 1,100 MPa in PHS.
Can FabDigit make parts in Usibor 1500-PHS?
Yes — Usibor 1500-PHS is available for sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Usibor / press-hardenable steels for automotive body-in-white — ArcelorMittal (2023)
- EN 10083 / VDA 239-100 boron-alloyed press-hardening steel 22MnB5 — CEN / VDA (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials (coated steels) — ASM International (2005)
- WorldAutoSteel / Advanced High-Strength Steel Application Guidelines v7 (PHS) — WorldAutoSteel (2021)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.