Patent ID: 8021497

Claim:
A method for producing a hardened steel part having cathodic corrosion protection, comprising: applying a coating to a hardenable steel alloy in a continuous coating process, wherein the coating consists essentially of zinc and contains one or more high oxygen affinity elements in a total quantity of 0.1% by weight to 15% by weight in relation to the overall coating; bringing the coated hardenable steel alloy, at least in some areas, to a temperature necessary for hardening, with the admission of atmospheric oxygen, and heating the coated hardenable steel alloy until it undergoes a microstructural change necessary for the hardening; wherein a superficial skin consisting essentially of an oxide of the high oxygen affinity element(s) is formed on the coating, which protects the zinc-containing coating from oxidation; forming the hardenable steel alloy into a sheet before or after the heating; and cooling the sheet after sufficient heating, a cooling rate being calculated in order to achieve a hardening of the sheet alloy.