As early as a few years ago, the aluminum body has become the highest car manufacturing standard in the industry. In that year, the BMW Brilliance 5 Series, which was the first in China to adopt an all-aluminum body, also received unanimous praise from the industry, while another luxury brand model of the same level used a steel plate body instead of an all-aluminum body after it was made in China. For this reason, this model was also given the title of "unkind" that year, and then the BMW 5 Series won the top sales of luxury mid-to-large sedans in China. So the question is, what are the benefits of an all-aluminum body? In addition to being light, what other advantages does it have that we can't see?

1. The body weight is lighter

First of all, the biggest advantage of the aluminum alloy material is that it is lighter in weight. Generally, the density of aluminum is 2.7/cm3, while the density of steel is 7.8g/cm3, and the weight of aluminum with the same volume is only about 1/3 of that of steel. It is born with extremely strong advantages, which is why it is widely used now.

In the field of the automobile industry, the difference in weight between the body made of all-aluminum and the body made of steel plate is not small. It is only 1705kg, while the minimum weight of a luxury brand model built with a steel plate body is 1780kg. Therefore, in comparison between the two, the latter is equivalent to pulling an extra adult weighing 150 catties in the default state.

Of course, the benefits of vehicle weight reduction are also very large. First of all, the most important thing is the upgrade at the driving level. We all know that the lighter the car, the smaller the inertia. Therefore, whether it is starting, accelerating, braking, or turning, the low-weight car will have smaller inertia and better responsiveness. Easier to control, which is what we commonly call "easy to drive".

In addition, there will be better performance in terms of fuel consumption. According to international research reports, for every 100kg reduction in vehicle curb weight, the fuel consumption per 100 kilometers of the vehicle will be reduced by 0.3-0.6L. Faced with today's soaring fuel prices, fuel consumption has become the most concerned issue for consumers.

The use of aluminum alloy body can also reduce the height of the center of gravity of the body to achieve the purpose of optimizing the front and rear counterweights. Moreover, suspension and control arms made of aluminum alloy are becoming more and more popular now. Compared with ordinary steel control arms, aluminum alloy can better reduce the unsprung mass, making the vehicle easier to control and the vehicle more stable. It is easy to be pushed, and there is a sense of lightness when driving. At the same time, reducing the unsprung mass can also reduce bumps and improve ride comfort.

2. Better body rigidity

Many friends may worry that the strength of the body made of aluminum alloy will not be as high as that of the steel body? In fact, it is normal for everyone to have this kind of thinking, because in our inherent impression, the strength of aluminum is not as good as steel. However, in real life, the strength of aluminum alloys produced by aluminum alloys is also divided into grades and grades through different processing techniques. By using different strength steels in different parts of the body, the all-aluminum body can also meet safety requirements. strength.

However, in order to achieve a better strength of the body, many brands will add high-strength steel to the joints, so that although the weight is slightly increased, the strength is higher than that of an all-aluminum body. Therefore, there is a moderate range in which parts of the body should use aluminum alloy or high-strength steel, so that not only can the weight of the vehicle be reduced, but also the strength of the body can be optimized.

3. Better energy absorption effect

Although the strength of aluminum alloy is not as high as that of high-strength steel, it endows aluminum alloy with good ductility, which can absorb energy through its own deformation and collapse. We all know that the strength of a car is important, but a good energy absorption and collapse can better release the energy generated by the collision, thereby protecting the driver and passengers. Therefore, usually the energy-absorbing box designed for the front bumper and rear bumper of the car will use low-strength aluminum alloy instead, so that the entire energy-absorbing box can collapse better. However, the strength of the body must be strong enough, especially the longitudinal beams and A-pillars, where the energy transfer must be locked, so that the energy will not be transferred into the cockpit, so these parts generally use high-intensity heat. Formed steel to keep the cockpit from collapsing.

4. Better corrosion resistance

As the service life of the vehicle increases, various degrees of corrosion will occur, so the car body will be treated with anti-rust treatment before assembly, but this can only delay the rusting time of the steel plate, and cannot completely prevent the steel plate from rusting. Especially the deicing agent sprinkled on the ground in snowy days is particularly corrosive to the chassis of the car body, so that the steel plate gradually loses its proper strength. Compared with steel plates, aluminum plates do not have such concerns, because it can react with oxygen in the air to form a layer of aluminum oxide film, thereby isolating the aluminum alloy from chemical reactions with external substances. Therefore, aluminum alloy parts are more resistant to corrosion than steel plates. However, many car companies now carry out a certain degree of anti-corrosion and anti-rust treatment on the vehicle chassis before leaving the factory. Depending on the positioning of the model, the degree of treatment by the manufacturer will vary. Luxury brands obviously need to do better in this regard.

Summarize

Why do good cars use aluminum? After reading the above article, everyone must have an answer in their hearts. However, because the cost of aluminum alloy is relatively expensive, which is four times that of the same steel, aluminum alloy is not a mainstream material in family cars less than 200,000 yuan, and most of them are steel. For some cars with a price of more than 400,000 yuan, aluminum alloy materials are basically used now, so this also explains why all good cars use aluminum. However, it doesn't mean that if you don't use aluminum, it's not a good car. It's just that relatively speaking, the product characteristics of aluminum alloy are more prominent, but due to cost reasons, it has not yet been fully popularized in family cars.

DONGHENG ALUMINUM is a large-scale industrial and trade integration enterprise integrating R&D, production and sales. The company has more than 100 outstanding employees and is located in the beautiful Qingdao. Mainly engaged in the production and sales of aluminum sheets, foils and coils. The company's scale has been continuously expanded, and its sales network has covered more than 60 countries around the world. The company takes the initiative to undertake social responsibilities, and regards ecological environmental protection as the key task of development.