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Views: 50 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-06-13 Origin: Site
Lightweight materials are essential in the automotive industry for boosting fuel efficiency, performance, and lowering emissions. These advanced materials and components are expected to transform the industry significantly in the near future.
By examining the different types of lightweight materials employed in the automotive industry and their uses, we can reveal their crucial roles in achieving weight reduction and enhancing overall vehicle efficiency.
High-strength steel is created by incorporating a small amount of alloying elements into regular carbon steel. The greater the strength of the steel, the more effective the weight reduction. While the production cost is comparable to that of standard carbon steel, the added alloying elements substantially enhance its tensile strength. Presently, high-strength steel is primarily utilized in automotive safety components, chassis, and body structures.
Aluminum is a key competitor to steel in automotive body applications, primarily due to its excellent extrusion forming capability. Using aluminum alloy for body panels can reduce weight by about 50% compared to steel. Many automobile manufacturers are showcasing the potential of aluminum alloy for vehicle lightweighting by developing aluminum-intensive concept cars. In the automotive sector, approximately 80% of aluminum alloy is used for die-cast components, especially in engines, wheels, and other parts.
Magnesium is even lighter than aluminum, with only two-thirds of its density. In the automotive industry, cast magnesium alloys make up more than 90% of the magnesium used in vehicles. Although magnesium alloys currently represent less than 1% of automotive materials, their use is gaining attention from major car manufacturers worldwide due to the push for lightweighting. For instance, in the United States, certain vehicle models use between 5.8 to 26.3 kg of magnesium alloy per car. In Europe, the use of magnesium alloys is also significant, with some models incorporating 9.3 to 20.3 kg per vehicle, ranking just behind North America in usage.
Carbon fiber is a composite material composed of more than 90% carbon. It combines the properties of carbon with the flexibility and workability of textile fibers, representing a new generation of reinforced fibers. With a higher strength than steel and a lower density than titanium, carbon fiber excels in electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. When used in reinforced composites, it provides sufficient strength and stiffness, making it an ideal material for manufacturing key structural components in automobiles, such as car bodies and chassis. It is estimated that using carbon fiber composites can reduce the weight of these components by 40% to 60%.
Modified plastics are created by enhancing general and engineering plastics through techniques such as filling, blending, and reinforcement. These processes improve properties like flame retardancy, strength, impact resistance, and toughness. Nowadays, modified plastics are primarily utilized in the automotive industry for exterior and interior trim parts, as well as functional and structural components.
When it comes to weight reduction in automotive applications, materials show a progressive increase in effectiveness: high-strength steel, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber. However, these materials also exhibit an ascending cost trend: high-strength steel, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, and carbon fiber.
Fortunately, there are numerous strategies to achieve lighter automotive components and products. The good news is that Zonze provides rapid prototyping and low-volume production services, along with in-house expertise and a range of materials. At Zonze, you have access to a wide array of resources to assist in reducing the weight of car components.
