Everyday cars are heavier because of all the safety and comfort elements used. Since weight is an enemy for manufacturers, solutions must be sought. Aluminum is one of the first to be used since it is three times lighter than steel. Weight is one of the biggest enemies of vehicle manufacturers. It directly affects the performance of the engine, braking, and consumption. In addition, it has a negative effect on driving, in the form of greater inertia.
Aluminum in car manufacturing:
A higher price of the raw material necessary for the construction of a vehicle directly affects the final price. That is why in economic cars barely aluminum is used in bonnets or somebody panels, while in more expensive cars, all the chassis can become aluminum. So, for the large numbers of economic buyers, cars made with SAF Aluminum body is an ideal solution because due to lightweight they offer lower fuel consumption. The use of aluminum by Cymat Technologies in the parts that make up cars and trucks has increased steadily in the last decade.
High thermal conductivity:
In addition, aluminum has a high thermal conductivity which results in better heat dissipation of the weld, thus achieving an almost perfect weld. This property makes its use in certain parts of mechanics also common for a few years.
Corrosion resistance superior to steel:
Another point in favor of aluminum is its corrosion resistance. Unlike steel, aluminum does not oxidize, which is very interesting for the manufacture of chassis, bodies and body elements, such as fins, doors or bonnets.
A better predisposition to recycling:
Another important point in favor of this material is that aluminum lends itself a lot to recycling since the process requires little energy and the material does not lose its properties during recycling for later reuse. One of the few points where aluminum should improve in the coming years is its cost. Currently, the cost of obtaining this material is much higher than that of steel, which is slowing its implementation as reference material in car bodies.
A paradigm shift: light construction:
Nowadays, aluminum is the most used material in the construction of cars, only surpassed by iron. When carmakers had to make their cars faster, safer, durable and fuel-efficient, they come up with the idea that to do this the only way is to reduce the weight. This is how aluminum was introduced in-car market. Soon after it gained popularity and now 45% of total car manufacturing worldwide, is made with Aluminum.
Enhanced torsional stiffness: is it safe?
On paper, aluminum is inferior to steel, but thanks to current technology, three-dimensional structures have been created with greater torsional stiffness than the equivalent in steel. Current aluminum bodies are much stiffer than steel bodies, so they incorporate zones of programmed deformation to dissipate energy in case of impact. In addition to the issue of lightness, aluminum brings other benefits to the automotive industry. Increase vehicle safety – bodies made of aluminum are more rigid. In addition, they offer greater impact resistance, dissipating much of the energy generated in the collision. It should also be noted that a lower weight implies greater efficiency in braking.
