NEW IDEAS FOR ALUMINIUM PARTS

New developments in friction stir welding and superplastic forming techniques could alter the balance between price and performance that has limited the use of aluminium on the body-in-white. It has been predicted that the average European car could have 240 kg of aluminium by 2010. To get into mass-production of the body-in-white fabrications, costs must be closer to those of steel and raw material prices must fall. The principles of friction stir welding and superplastic forming are outlined. The main problems with these techniques are the capital investment required and the costs. Other developments that might increase the use of aluminium in vehicle bodies are warm forming, which occurs at temperatures below those of superplastic forming, a new processing treatment for aluminium-magnesium alloys that allows them to have a class A paintable surface, and a laser cladding system from Irepa in France.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/16168216
• Corporate Authors:

  VIEWEG & SOHN VERLAGSGELLSCHAFT MBH

  ABRAHAM-LINCOLN STRASSE 46
  WIESBADEN,   Germany  65189
• Publication Date: 2004-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 38-9
• Serial:
  • AUTOTECHNOLOGY
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: VIEWEG & SOHN VERLAGSGELLSCHAFT MBH
  • ISSN: 1616-8216

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Costs; Economics; Manufactures; Metals; Motor vehicle bodies; Vehicles; Welding
• ITRD Terms: 7168: Aluminium; 1356: Body (car); 224: Cost; 255: Economics; 3647: Manufacture; 4543: Metal; 1255: Vehicle; 3852: Welding
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00978216
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 3 2004 12:00AM