UltraTube™ Material Overview

UltraTube™ is manufactured from dual-phase (DP) steel, part of a well-established family of high-strength steels developed to combine strength and ductility in a single material. These steels are widely used in the automotive industry for structural and safety-critical components where energy absorption, crash performance, and high-cycle fatigue resistance are essential. Unlike conventional mild or HSLA steels that rely on a single ferritic structure, DP steels feature a softer ferrite matrix reinforced by islands of hard martensite. This combination allows the steel to begin deforming progressively under load, without a sharp yield point, then rapidly strengthen as deformation increases – a behaviour known as a high work-hardening rate.

Mechanical Performance

In practice, DP steel absorbs energy efficiently, maintains dimensional stability under load, and can be formed into complex shapes while delivering excellent strength-to-weight performance. Its combination of strength and ductility enables the use of thinner gauges and fewer reinforcements without compromising integrity or durability, reducing overall steel consumption and component mass. During cold forming, the material’s inherent strain-hardening behaviour further elevates yield strength in the finished tube, contributing to lighter, more efficient designs, improved fabrication efficiency, and enhanced sustainability outcomes across a wide range of engineering and manufacturing applications.

Automotive OEM Grade

Advanced high-strength steels are now mainstream in vehicle body-in-white and structural parts, with as much as 70 % of the steel content in modern vehicle structures made from AHSS. Within that portfolio, dual-phase (DP) is one of the most widely applied grades in chassis and structural components, supported by the same material and process standards demanded by global OEMs.

How Dual-Phase Steel Is Made

Dual-phase steel is produced through a continuous annealing process on production lines designed for precise thermal and atmospheric control. The cold-rolled steel passes through a series of cleaning, heating, soaking, quenching, and overaging zones to achieve the desired microstructure. Within the intercritical temperature range, part of the structure transforms to austenite while the remainder stays ferritic; rapid controlled cooling then converts the austenite to martensite, creating the characteristic dual-phase structure. Final overaging and gas-jet cooling ensure uniform mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and coating readiness. These highly automated lines deliver exceptional consistency, traceability, and performance, forming the foundation for the quality and reliability of UltraTube™ .

Why Dual Phase Steel for UltraTube?

Advanced High-Strength Steels like those used in UltraTube™ set a modern benchmark for high-performance steels, enabling lighter, stronger, safer, and more efficient designs without the cost or complexity of exotic alloys. UltraTube™ is produced through a highly controlled manufacturing process that ensures consistent strength, formability, and finish – delivering performance with precision. We selected dual-phase steel for UltraTube™ because it offers a unique balance of mechanical properties and alloy chemistry: high tensile strength (around 850 MPa) paired with approximately 17% elongation in the formed tube. Its dual-phase microstructure allows strain to be shared progressively between ferrite and martensite, delaying local necking and improving usable formability. This balance supports precision bending and forming, consistent fabrication, and excellent weld performance using readily available filler materials.

Experience the next generation of performance tubing – contact Industrial Tube Manufacturing to discuss how UltraTube™ can strengthen your next project.