
Automotive Materials
An Introduction
Since the popular advent of motoring at the beginning of the 20th Century, the race to create cars which are faster, safer, more economical and affordable has given material scientists no end of work to meet all of the industry's expectations. The inclusion of ever more exotic materials and efficient manufacturing techniques have given us mass-market access to automobiles with performance and safety which until only recently was found solely on race cars. As we transition from the age of the internal combustion engine and into one of hybrid and electrical propulsion, new materials will be created and new purposes for existing ones will be found to meet the requirements of advancing technologies.





Aramids in Motoring
Aluminium usage in aeronautics goes back as far as the aeronautical industry itself. Indeed, the Wright brother's struggle to find an engine with the specifications they required, namely a weight of 90Kg and a power output of 8hp, lead them to develop their own engine using a cast aluminium block. The use of this material and their ingenuity surpassed even their own expectations, creating an engine which weighed 77Kg and offered 12hp. Its low mass, high strength and sheer breadth of alloys suitable to meet the physical requirements of air travel make it absolutely essential to almost all aircraft's construction.
Wrought
Grade
​
2014
2024
6061
7050
7075
Use
​
Aircraft structures
Cast
Grade
​
201.0
355.0
242.0
A242.0
356.0
Use
​
Aerospace housings
Aircraft fittings
Turboprop pistons
Aircraft parts
Aircraft castings
Grade
​
359.0
B295.0
360.0
354.0
520.0
Use
​
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings
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Integ Metals // Industries // Automotive

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Aluminium in Motoring
Aluminium usage in motoring has been gathering apace in recent years. Originally utilised to create complex designs for alloy wheels, Aluminium has now found purposes across the vehicle, from engine components to body shells. The benefits are obvious: easily formed, excellent strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistant and easily recycled, Aluminium is used to create vehicles that are stronger, lighter, faster, safer and more environmentally friendly than ever before.
Uses
​
Body shell | Monocoque constructions | Wheels | Engine blocks | Cylinder heads | Pistons | Con-rods | Radiators | Suspension components | Transmission components | Crankcases | Fuel tanks | Wiring
Wrought
Grade
​
5056, 5182, 6009, 6010, 6016, 6060, 6181
​
Cast
Grade
​
319
332
380
​
​
​
Use
​
Crankcases
Pistons
Mounting brackets, transmission components, gear cases
Grade
​
390
​
​
356
Use
​
Engine blocks, pistons, manifolds & cylinder heads
Suspension components
Nickel in Motoring
Due to its relatively high weight, Nickel is used as a niche product in the automobile industry. There are other materials which are stronger, can resist normal oxidation and are cheaper to form for structural and mechanical parts. However, it is becoming the poster child in the world of exhausts where its high temperature capabilities, corrosion resistance, and strength allows very thin walled tubing to be used, increasing perfomance and saving weight. It is also used for cathodes in electric automotile batteries.
Grade
​
CPUA
718
Use
​
Cathodes for battery packs
Exhaust systems
Steel in Motoring
For the longest time, Steel had the automotive market all to itself and its not difficult to see why: plentiful supply, easy to shape, strong and reliable, the entire structure of the car could once have been manufactured from iron, or its most famous alloy. Make no mistake, in the face of increasing competition from other metals and the advance of composites in motoring, Steel is still more than able to hold it's own, accounting for 60%, or 900Kg, of the average,car's weight.
Wrought
Grade
​
1010
​
Use
​
Body Panels
Cast
Grade
​
201.0
355.0
242.0
A242.0
356.0
Use
​
Aerospace housings
Aircraft fittings
Turboprop pistons
Aircraft parts
Aircraft castings
Grade
​
359.0
B295.0
360.0
354.0
520.0
Use
​
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings
Titanium in Motoring
Aluminium usage in aeronautics goes back as far as the aeronautical industry itself. Indeed, the Wright brother's struggle to find an engine with the specifications they required, namely a weight of 90Kg and a power output of 8hp, lead them to develop their own engine using a cast aluminium block. The use of this material and their ingenuity surpassed even their own expectations, creating an engine which weighed 77Kg and offered 12hp. Its low mass, high strength and sheer breadth of alloys suitable to meet the physical requirements of air travel make it absolutely essential to almost all aircraft's construction.
Wrought
Grade
​
2014
2024
6061
7050
7075
Use
​
Aircraft structures
Cast
Grade
​
201.0
355.0
242.0
A242.0
356.0
Use
​
Aerospace housings
Aircraft fittings
Turboprop pistons
Aircraft parts
Aircraft castings
Grade
​
359.0
B295.0
360.0
354.0
520.0
Use
​
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings
Carbon Fibre in Motoring
Aluminium usage in aeronautics goes back as far as the aeronautical industry itself. Indeed, the Wright brother's struggle to find an engine with the specifications they required, namely a weight of 90Kg and a power output of 8hp, lead them to develop their own engine using a cast aluminium block. The use of this material and their ingenuity surpassed even their own expectations, creating an engine which weighed 77Kg and offered 12hp. Its low mass, high strength and sheer breadth of alloys suitable to meet the physical requirements of air travel make it absolutely essential to almost all aircraft's construction.
Wrought
Grade
​
2014
2024
6061
7050
7075
Use
​
Aircraft structures
Cast
Grade
​
201.0
355.0
242.0
A242.0
356.0
Use
​
Aerospace housings
Aircraft fittings
Turboprop pistons
Aircraft parts
Aircraft castings
Grade
​
359.0
B295.0
360.0
354.0
520.0
Use
​
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft castings
Aircraft fittings