Aluminum Alloy-an Important Material for Automobile Lightweight

West Aluminum - West Aluminum Industry Telecom:For the need of environmental protection and energy saving, lightweight is the inevitable trend of automobile development. Automobile lightweight is very important to reduce body weight, fuel consumption and emission reduction. Automobile lightweight can be achieved through advanced manufacturing technology, lightweight materials, structural design and other ways. Lightweight materials include aluminum, magnesium, ceramics, plastics, glass fiber, carbon fiber composite materials and so on.

"Domestic automobile body lightweight will bring the golden age of aluminium". Considering the comprehensive performance of lightweight, energy saving and environmental protection, aluminium alloy is the preferred material for automobile lightweight. Many countries have devoted themselves to the research of aluminium alloy for automobile. The results show that the weight reduction effect of 2 kg can be achieved for every 1 kg aluminium material used in automobiles; the fuel consumption can be reduced by 6%-8% and the exhaust emission can be reduced by 4% for every 10% weight reduction of automobiles.

Aluminum alloy materials can be divided into deformed aluminum alloy and cast aluminum alloy. Among them, wrought aluminium alloy can be used in body system components, heat exchanger system components, van truck and so on; cast aluminium alloy can be used in engine system, transmission system, clutch pedal, steering wheel and so on. Aluminum alloy has high specific strength, corrosion resistance and good processing formability. Its strength after heat treatment is comparable to that of steel. Therefore, it can be used as an ideal lightweight material for automobiles. At present and in the future, aluminum alloy is the main alternative material for lightweight automobiles.

Compared with foreign advanced automobiles, the application of aluminium alloy sheets in automotive industry in China lags far behind that in developed countries. In developed countries of automobile industry, 18% of aluminium is used in automobile manufacturing. The average aluminium consumption per car is about 140 kg, and it is growing at the rate of 20% - 30% per year. It is reported that China has issued relevant policies to support the industrialization of high-quality aluminium alloy automobile sheets.

In 2018, although China's production and sales have declined for the first time in many years, the annual output and sales are the first in the world. Especially in the field of new energy vehicles, they are still developing at a high speed. According to the plan, the number of new energy vehicles in China will reach 2 million by 2020. For new energy vehicles, lightweight technology is one of the core key technologies. Especially in the context of subsidized downhill, how to choose the appropriate technology route to ask Rouen to pay, and also take into account the performance, durability and cost, which is a great challenge for the whole new energy automotive industry.

At present, the power battery case of electric vehicle is mostly made of aluminium and steel. In power battery, pallet accounts for 20-30% of the weight of battery system, which is the main structure. Aluminum alloy material, first of all, can meet the structural requirements of vehicle parts including battery system, and can replace some steel structure materials. The applications of automotive aluminium alloys mainly include 5 x x x series (Al-Mg) and 6 x x x series (Al-Mg-Si) etc. Aluminum pallets mainly use 6 series aluminium profiles (material application, further analysis and exploration are needed).

6 series aluminium alloys have moderate strength, good formability and corrosion resistance, excellent comprehensive performance, low yield strength after solution quenching and natural aging treatment, good stamping formability, and enhanced strength and depression resistance after paint treatment. Therefore, this material is the preferred material for automobile lightweight.

The safety of automobiles is not measured by the thickness of the iron sheet, but by the safety design of the body structure. In recent years, all countries in the world are developing lightweight body, reducing emissions, and promoting new energy. Automobile lightweight is the future development trend of automobiles. Aluminum alloy, as an important lightweight material for automobiles, must be based on the global market and develop sustainably.

(Chongqing Xialu Xinda Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. Publicity Department collates contributions)

Source: Network

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