Release for StronSal^®MC

A modern industrial company's success depends on an ongoing ability to master new challenges. Salzgitter Flachstahl has developed the product StronSal^®MC, a zinc-magnesium coating for thin sheet, that fulfills the specific requirements for automotive body shell parts. Thanks to continual developments, the positive characteristics of StronSal^® were combined with a surface appearance that satisfies body shell requirements; this led to StronSal^®MC.

Thanks to its improved corrosion protection, StronSal^®MC ensures that the coating's thickness can be reduced without any loss of corrosion resistance. In addition to reducing the use of zinc, this also reduces the weight, which in turn has a positive effect on the CO₂ balance. The especially good tribological characteristics are a further argument in favor of StronSal^®MC use in the body shell. Due to the optimized friction characteristics, StronSal^®MC offers automakers additional savings potential because the significantly reduced abrasion in the mold greatly reduces breakdowns and rework by casts.

Developing StronSal^® in body shell quality required mastering diverse challenges and finding a number of creative new approaches during the project work. In addition to dealing with process-related physical and chemical problems that arose due to the new alloying, a zinc tank was put into operation on zinc-plating line 2 at the end of 2014.    
All this hard work has paid off, as confirmed by the BMW Group's recent material release. But this is probably just the beginning of the story of StronSal^®MC's success, because there is a clear trend towards zinc-magnesium coatings in the automotive sector.
Besides body shell applications, zinc-magnesium coatings also offer advantages for the chassis. SZBS800 chassis steel coated with StronSal^® is one example of a successful and proven application of this innovative coating in vehicles. The StronSal^® coating's outstanding characteristics join forces with the high-strength SZBS800 material’s good forming characteristics. Compared to a conventional hot-dip zinc coating, this combination offers improved corrosion protection and significantly reduced abrasion in the mold.