Dual-phase high strength steels are used by most car manufacturers for better crash protection, higher comfort and reduced fuel consumption. Thanks to their strain-hardening properties DP steels get even  stronger when the strengthis needed, in the case of an accident for example. TRIP steels are said to have the same advantage.

In the automotive industry DP-steels are often used because of their energy absorption.

When it comes to welding there are some important differences between DP and TRIP:

In general Dual-phase steels have a better weldability when spot-welding is used.

“We have seen trials with Docol 800 DP compared with TRIP 800 where the spot welded TRIP steel suffered from partial plug failures”, says Karl-Inge Nilsson, product manager for Docol. “Also with laser welding  DP-steelshave an advantage as the  hardness of the weld can cause trouble in TRIP-steel. There is no big difference between those steel grades when MAG-welding is used.”