With competitive price and timely delivery, Hunter Special Steel Co., Ltd sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Stainless steel is undoubtedly one of the most widely-used materials in the world. Its lightweight and easily-machined, allowing it to be formed into a variety of dimensions. Though much exploration has been done towards stainless steel applications in automotives, this may have been largely underutilized because of the widespread use of other types of materials.
When it comes to automotive systems, safety and performance are two of the things on the top of the manufacturers considerations. Due to a demand to meet these standards, its imperative that the properties of stainless steel should be studied to produce high-performing vehicle components. Continue reading to learn more.
A vehicles exhaust system is important in allowing the vehicle to function for far longer time periods. Basically, the exhaust system is responsible for collecting exhaust gases that are being produced by the cylinders. In this way, harmful substances and other foreign objects which may have been incorporated in the gas will be removed, allowing the vehicle to run more smoothly and reduce discharge as well as the noise level.
Because of the highly-extensive work done by exhaust systems, its no surprise that a large part of maintenance costs go towards repairing this hefty-priced component. Keeping this in mind, lightweight and durable materials such as stainless steel make for the perfect choice of parts for manufacturing vehicle exhaust components. Stainless steel can be engineered to resist the effects of destructive conditions experienced by the exhaust engine, enabling car owners to enjoy more mileage on their vehicles.
Through stainless steel, the production of far smaller exhaust pipes has been possible, without compromising the engine performance. This creates an overall lighter, higher-performance vehicle that produces minimal noise.
In line with exhaust systems, stainless steel also makes the best applications for automotives, when it comes to any tube hydroforming-based techniques. One of the main drivers behind this is that this method can be utilized in the production of lightweight vehicle structural components which are lighter in comparison to other kinds of materials.
Simply put, tube hydroforming of stainless steel involves the use of a high or low-pressure form of hydraulic fluid. Inside a mold, an empty, hollow tube is placed inside. The resulting shape is achieved by pumping the fluid into the mold. Using stainless steel, this process is useful in producing vehicle structures like radiator support components, engine cradles, hydraulics, and other suspension parts.
Through stainless steel tube hydroforming, a single stainless steel component can be used in place of multiple individual parts which have all been manually welded into place. This offers vehicles with a higher level of efficiency, especially when it comes to storage space. This also reduces the cost required in making multiple components that can otherwise be done through a single stainless steel tube hydroforming process.
As mentioned before, stainless steel has many desirable attributes which make it the smartest choice for virtually almost any kind of automotive application. In particular, its corrosion-resistant properties make it another good choice for automotive fuel tank installations.
Corrosion-resistant fuel tanks are able to withstand different forms of weathering on the material, preventing instances of rust and oxidation which can be costly to repair. This is an important feature to consider knowing that vehicles travel on different surfaces of varying characteristics foreign materials that may enter the fuel tank will do only minimal harm in distorting this stainless steel-produced component.
Apart from this, stainless steels high level of machinability and malleability means that fuel tanks can be shaped in many different kinds of dimensions and sizes, which eventually result in a stronger fuel tank material, as well as a low evaporative emissions capability.
Certain manipulative properties of stainless steel make it possible to increase its strength and high fatigue properties. These properties are useful for the production of stainless steel-made cylinder head gaskets which offer a seal between the engine block, as well as the head which covers the cylinders. Gaskets are used for controlled explosions which can result from different combustion processes taking place in the engine protecting the engine from leakage from internal fluids.
For this specific use, stainless steel requires to be subject to a hardening process, such as cold sheet rolling. As the engine runs, fluctuations in the tensile strength experienced by the head gaskets occur. This repetitive motion requires a significant level of fatigue strength which can be produced using stainless steel.
Are you interested in learning more about what cars are made of stainless steel? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Stainless steel has also proven to score high on the many attributes which measure a vehicles safety capabilities, or crashworthiness. This is because stainless steel has resulted in a high absorption capability which even trumps that of commonly-used materials such as carbon, for vehicle frames.
The high absorption capabilities of stainless steel compounded with its ease of manufacturing and high strength make this the perfect crash-testing material in order to gauge a vehicles safety in different situations and road scenarios.
Stainless steel offers solutions to some of the most pressing safety concerns that vehicle manufacturers face in their operations, especially when it comes to producing lightweight, fuel-efficient, as well as cost-effective vehicles.
In automotives, stainless steel applications include components for exhaust and suspension systems, as well as those for combustion, and for gauging the safety of the vehicle.
There is no other such material that is capable of exhibiting many useful industrial attributes all at once flexibility, machinability, high-strength, and versatility just to name a few. For vehicle manufacturers, the challenge lies in experimenting on a variety of other uses for this highly sought-after material.
Stainless Steel Applications in the Automotive Industry
As of , there are an estimated 138,900 sheet metal workers in the United States, and a good number of them work with stainless steel. Stainless steel has many structural properties that make it suitable for automotive applications, such as being non-magnetic and resistant to corrosion. Apart from these, there are various other reasons why car manufacturers are increasingly using 304 stainless steel over other metal alloys. Lets explore the following five reasons.
Crashworthiness and reliable safety systems are critical for keeping passengers safe in vehicles. In the past, manufacturers preferred to use carbon stainless steel for its ability to absorb impact. Carbon stainless is still widely used in many applications because it is cost-effective.
However, in recent years, 304 stainless steel has proven to be more beneficial for noise and vibration reduction. Additionally, thin steel sheet can effectively absorb energy, resist rusting, and has exceptional formability. These features make the metal suitable for building structural parts of the car.
Stainless steel is also becoming the metal of choice for gaskets, screws, horse fittings, and windscreen parts. One of the reasons manufacturers favor 304 stainless steel is because of its heat resistance and anti-corrosion properties. It is better than other grades of combined metals since it is strong but also aesthetically pleasing.
Automobiles today need to resist corrosion and heat while using safe materials. In the past, toxic materials like asbestos were placed between two sheets of metal to absorb heat. However, modern gaskets have between three and five metal sheets of 304 stainless steel. The assembly can handle high temperatures while complying with regulations.
Thin sheet metal can form a protective layer to resist corrosion and harsh elements of the weather. If there is damage to the coating, it can regenerate in an oxidizing atmosphere. For that reason, stainless steel is one of the best structural parts of the car exposed to moisture and chemicals.
Modern cars need fuel tanks that can handle very high temperatures and toxic chemicals. This is partly due to the fuel delivery technology that returns unused fuel to the tank. Its outer surface also has to resist chemicals, dust, and grime.
Other than being resistant to corrosion and heat, stainless steel will hardly absorb chemicals. Therefore, it results in lower emissions than other materials used for fuel tanks. Automobile manufacturers are also using 304 stainless steel for its affordability and formability.
Catalytic converters can reduce the emission of exhaust from the car engine. For a long time, the most widely used material has been ceramic due to its heat resistant properties. Unfortunately, ceramic can be heavy and bulky. The most recent converters use a minimal quantity of ceramic mixed with stainless steel.
304 stainless steel has another advantage for catalytic converters in that it can conduct electricity. The material can be pre-heated so that the exhaust is warm when you start the car. More manufacturers are utilizing the alloy for modern automobiles thanks to its reliability.
304 stainless steel has many useful features that are not just limited to the automobile industry. Before you choose thin metal sheets for your applications, consult a supplier with experience in providing quality grade stainless steel.
For more are cars made from steelinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.