Quality	Standard	Material No.	Possible Surface Coating:
HC260B, HC260B+ZE	DIN EN 10268	1.0400	+ZE according to DIN EN 10152

Testing direction	Yield Point Re (MPa)	Tensil Strength Rm (MPa)	Elongation A80 (in %)	BH2 MPa
Q	260 – 320	360 – 440	≥ 29	35

HC260B is a cold-rolled micro-alloyed steel in accordance with the DIN EN 10268 standard that impresses with its outstanding properties and wide range of applications. It is characterized by unparalleled strength, good formability, weldability and bake-hardening properties, making it a reliable and economical solution for demanding applications in a wide range of industries.

Incomparable strength thanks to maximum tensile strength: With a minimum tensile strength of 260 MPa and a minimum elongation at break of 20%, HC260B significantly exceeds the strength values of comparable steels. This makes it the ideal choice for applications that have to withstand extreme loads, such as in building construction, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and vehicle construction.

Easy processing thanks to good formability: Despite its high strength, HC260B can be bent, drawn and punched without any problems. This enables simple and economical processing and the production of components with complex geometries. This allows designers to implement their ideas flexibly and efficiently.

Secure connections thanks to good weldability: HC260B is characterized by its good weldability. This makes it easy to join components securely and permanently, which further expands the range of applications for the material and ensures high reliability and durability of the structures.

Flexible adaptation thanks to bake-hardening properties: HC260B is a bake-hardening steel. This means that its strength and hardness can be further increased by heating and then cooling (hardening process). This property makes it possible to adapt the material specifically to the requirements of the respective application and thus achieve optimum performance.

Differences between HC180B, HC220B and HC260B
The HC180B, HC220B and HC260B steels differ in terms of their strength. HC260B offers the highest strength of the three steels, followed by HC220B and HC180B.

Special feature of bake-hardening steels (B)
Bake-hardening steels (B) are characterized by the possibility of further increasing their strength and hardness through heating and subsequent cooling (hardening process). This is achieved by converting martensite into bainite, a harder and tougher steel phase. The bake-hardening properties of HC260B make it an ideal material for applications that require maximum safety and resilience while offering a degree of flexibility in adapting to the specific requirements of the application.

Areas of application for HC260B
HC260B is used in numerous industries and applications thanks to its outstanding properties. Its specific strength, good formability, weldability and bake-hardening properties make it a versatile material.

Summary
HC260B is a robust and versatile cold-rolled micro-alloyed bake-hardening steel with a unique combination of high strength, good formability, weldability and bake-hardening properties. It is the optimal choice for applications that require maximum safety, load-bearing capacity and flexibility and offers a reliable and economical solution for demanding projects.

The cold-rolled micro-alloyed HC2260B steel presents itself as an advanced material in the metalworking industry with a number of technical advantages. A notable feature of this steel is its ability to be electrolytically galvanized, which expands its application possibilities and improves its resistance to corrosion. Electrolytic galvanizing allows the HC2260B steel to be evenly coated with a layer of zinc, which not only improves its aesthetic appearance but also extends its service life. This process also provides an increased protective layer against environmental influences, which is particularly beneficial in demanding environments. Thus, the possibility of electrolytic galvanizing opens up new perspectives for the application of HC2260B steel in areas where high resistance to corrosion and a long service life are required.

Characteristic overlay factor	Nominal zinc coating per side Thickness µm	Nominal zinc coating per side Mass g/m²	Minimum value per side Thickness µm	Minimum value per page Mass g/m²
ZE25/25	2,5	18	1,7	12
ZE50/50	5,5	36	4,1	29
ZE75/75	7,5	54	6,6	47
ZE100/100	10,0	72	9,1	65

Code letters	Type of surface treatment
P	phosphated
PC	Phosphated and chemically treated
C	chemically passivated
PCO	Phosphated, chemically treated and oiled
CO	Chemically passivated and oiled
PO	Phosphated and oiled
O	oiled
S	sealed
U	galvanized, without surface treatment