Production Routes for Impact Extruded Aluminum Parts for the Automotive Industry

Abstract:

In the past months due to decreasing fuel prices the brisance of light weight design got lost, however climate change is still continuing and there is an increasing demand for aluminum parts for mobile applications. There is a strong rivalry between well-known materials such as aluminum, steel and plastic, however technical progress features new materials such as carbon fiber laminates (CFK). New competitors in North America and China are increasing the cost pressure, which requires further process optimizations. In this work different fabrication methods for impact extruded parts are analyzed and economical and technological aspects are compared. A comparison between traditional and state-of-the-art production routes is done. Based on an input-output analysis the alternatives are compared by economic and ecologic aspects, allowing a substantiated examination. Through the comprehensive analysis, options for technological optimizations are revealed to attenuate disadvantages of alternatives with economic advantages, ensuring technological leadership.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 710)
• Pages: 222-227
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.710.222
• Online since: September 2016
• Authors: Alexander Wimmer*, Bernhard Schwarz
• Keywords: AlMgSi, Aluminium, Carbon Footprint, EN AW 6082, Impact Extrusion

References

[1] Schneider, W. (2013): Essential Readings in Light Metals: Cast Shop for Aluminum Production, Edited by John F. Grandfield and Dmitry G. Eskin. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. S. 534-541.

DOI: 10.1002/9781118647783

[2] Birol, Y. (2013): Optimization of homogenization for a low alloyed AlMgSi alloy. Mat. Char. 80. S. 69–75.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2013.03.013

[3] Birol, Y. (2004): The effect of homogenization practice on the microstructure of AA6063 billets. Journal of Materials Processing Technology 148. S. 250–258.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2004.01.056

[4] Nowotnik, G. M., Sieniawski, J. (2005): Influence of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 6005 and 6082 aluminium alloys. Journal of Materials Processing Technology 162–163. S. 367–372.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2005.02.115

[5] Williamson & Smallman, Phil. Mag. 1: 1, (1955), 34-46.

[6] A Penlington, Master thesis, (2013).

[7] N Hansen, Mat. Sci. and Eng. A 409, (2005), 39-45.

[8] RE Stoller, SJ Zinkle, J. Nucl. Mater. 283-287, (2000), 349-352.

[9] J Rösler et al, Mechanisches Verhalten der Werkstoffe, Springer, (2013), 442 p, 350.

[10] A Wimmer et al, Acta Materialia 92, (2015), 243–254.

[11] A Penlington et al, Materials Science Forum 794-796, (2014), 605-610.

[12] E Nes, Acta Metall. Mater. 43, 6, (1995), 2189-2207.