Abstract
The production of automotive chassis parts requiring both high hardness and good shape-holdability is better realized by using press quenching technology, comprising the austenitizaton and the subsequent press quenching in a specially designed stamping tool. The effect of press quenching mold shape on the hardness distribution, bending height, and degree of planeness of automotive flexible plate during press quenching and tempering has been investigated. The preferable shape of the projections of punch and die in contact with the flexible plate was close to oval to improve the flow of cooling oil, leading to the higher hardness. The press quenching mold with three separate parts was more effective to control the dimensional change due to thermal deformation during press quenching. Some decrease in the bending height during tempering may be related to some recovery of the residual stress at $400^{\circ}C$.
