Application cases of new stainless steel in the automotive field
When it comes to the relationship between stainless steel and automobiles, the first thing that comes to people’s minds may be DeLorean’s DMC-12. The body panels of this car are made of brushed stainless steel, which is very eye-catching. In fact, for automobiles, stainless steel is more often the hero behind the scenes.
Exhaust devise, trim, and engine
“Exhaust systems need to use stainless steel with high corrosion resistance,” said Thomas Fröhlich, head of the automotive industry in Outokumpu’s EMEA product support department. He is responsible for product support in the automotive R&D department.
In order to meet the carbon dioxide emission standard, the engine needs to be reduced in size, so that the temperature will rise significantly, and in this case, stainless steel has become the most ideal material. Therefore, the automobile exhaust system has become the main application field of stainless steel.
In the fuel distribution pipe, fuel filter pipeline and interior parts, the application scale of stainless steel is relatively small.
Stainless steel is also used in car window trim strips and other decorative parts. Stainless steel decorative parts give the car a noble and luxurious style.
New application
The new European carbon dioxide emission regulations will take effect in 2020, which is a major driving force for the development of the automotive industry. Outokumpu, a leader in the stainless steel industry, has developed a new type of nickel-free, high-toughness, high-strength austenitic steel, which is the lowest-priced austenitic material in history that can compete with carbon steel materials. This also means that stainless steel is no longer a patent for luxury cars and will be widely popularized in the Volkswagen market.
Crashworthiness is a professional term used in the automotive industry to measure the safety of materials. Stainless steel performs well in terms of crashworthiness. Even top-quality hot-stamped carbon steel cannot be compared with it. Compared with carbon steel, the weight of austenitic stainless steel is 35% lighter, but its impact resistance is comparable or even better.
Another advantage of using austenitic stainless steel to manufacture automotive parts is its good corrosion resistance. The body part under the door-the footboard needs to be made of high-strength stainless steel that will not corrode. With good corrosion resistance, austenitic stainless steel can be used to manufacture chassis components such as engine frames and axles, as well as doorposts and beams.