“Aluminum or steel?” This question always confused cars engineer.
As you know, the call for environmental protection and energy saving is increasing now, which makes automobile manufacturers have to seek more solid, more frivolous raw material for making cars, thus, the war between aluminum and steel breaks out.
photo from emilines
Attack from aluminum
Aluminum not only reduce the weight of the half, but has better corrosion resistance compared with steel, which makes aluminum get more favor of automotive engineers.
Whole aluminum body structure of audi A8
Photo from autohome
Fight back from steel
The appearance of aluminum alloy for automobile steel makes steel supplier under pressure, so they decided to unit and take action to combat the threat of aluminum.
Photo from marcegaglia
In 1995, 32 international iron and steel manufacturers join together and put forward the concept of “super light carbon steel body”. The body made by this kind of high strength steel has the thinner and lighter structure. Actually, lightweight body exactly help improve the sales situation of high strength steel. Manufactures also announced that, at the same time, this material has another big benefit——making the car get higher scores in the crash tests of Euro NCAP—New Car Assessment Program!
The technical obstacle of aluminum alloy
Except Audi and Jaguar, most automotive manufacturer has little interested in the whole aluminum body because of its higher price, thus, manufactory like BMW take mixed form in body manufacture.
BMW 5 series of body structure——steel front and aluminum behind
photo from autohome
Even so, the metal property of swell after heated also makes aluminum difficult to be accepted by automotive engine.
Shanghai Metal Corporation can supply you with a great selection of metals such as aluminum, copper, and steel for many types of applications (automotive, construction, machinery, tools, etc.). Visit our website and do not hesitate to contact us for any question. Our English-speaking staff will be more than glad to help you find the most suitable materials.
Featured image from : cardesignfetish
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Chris // SMC Editor
Shanghai Metal Corporation 
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