At present, many domestic and foreign automobile enterprises have realized the lightweight upgrade of aluminum alloy vehicles. Compared with the traditional steel car, the aluminum body can reduce the overall weight by 30% ~ 40%, and the aluminum engine can reduce the weight by 30%. Moreover, the vehicle is light and strong, which is convenient for modularization, personalized design and diversified layout of the vehicle structure. It not only saves energy and reduces emissions, but also improves the vehicle's handling stability and collision safety.

The application of aluminum alloy in the light weight of automobile body

AA6000 series heat-treatable aluminum alloy has high strength, good forming performance, and high spray painting, baking and hardening characteristics. It has almost become a special aluminum alloy for the outer plate of covering parts. In addition, AA7075, AA7N01 and other 7000 series of ultra-high strength aluminum alloy in the outer plate of the covering parts are also in the forefront of research, which is expected to obtain a wider range of promotion and application.

In recent years, AA5754 and AA5182 are the most commonly used aluminum alloys for the inner plate of covering parts, with superior forming and welding properties. In addition, in case of vehicle collision, aa554 and AA5182 show good energy-absorbing buffering effect, which can provide better safety protection for passengers.

The use of aluminum alloy body frame can effectively reduce the vehicle preparation quality and improve the mechanical and safety performance of the vehicle. According to OPEL, the aluminum body is 23% better in quality and performance than steel, 74% better in torsion and rigidity, and 62% better in bending.

In recent years, with the further in-depth research of aluminum alloy materials, and the gradual reduction of manufacturing and use costs, its use in the middle and low-end vehicles are also gradually increasing, I believe that in the near future, the use of aluminum alloy body will be more popular, comprehensive coverage of body assembly parts.

Application of aluminum alloy in chassis lightweight

As one of the three major parts of an automobile, the chassis system carries the functions of transmission, driving, steering and braking. It is directly related to the vehicle's passability, operation stability and ride comfort, and is also one of the systems that customers focus on and perceive. 

Compared with forging, aluminum alloy rim produced by low pressure casting process has better cost efficiency and complex forming performance, but due to the unavoidable casting defects, the mechanical properties of cast aluminum rim are slightly lower than that of forged aluminum rim. The use of aluminum alloy rim can effectively reduce the unsprung mass of the vehicle driving system, absorb the vibration and torque generated during the driving process, and improve the driving stability, operating stability and ride comfort of the vehicle. Compared with steel rim, aluminum alloy rim heat dissipation performance and heat transfer performance is superior, can effectively send out the braking system and driving system heat, reduce the thermal load, improve the vehicle driving safety.

The results show that compared with the inevitability of casting defects, the mechanical properties of forged parts are better than those of cast parts, which can better meet the performance requirements of aluminum alloy for automobile chassis parts. Therefore, the low cost and high performance forging process will become the focus of future research in the field of lightweight aluminum alloy chassis parts.

Application of aluminum alloy in powertrain lightweight

With the continuous improvement of power performance requirements of the majority of users, light weight, low consumption, good heat conduction and corrosion resistance has become an important symbol of an excellent engine, and aluminum alloy material perfectly gives consideration to the above performance, making it possible to replace the ductile iron manufacturing engine.

The results show that proper heat treatment is helpful to improve the anti-fatigue performance of casting engine cylinder block, and the fatigue limit of aluminum alloy will be increased with the refinement of grain structure.

The research of lightweight aluminum alloy powertrain parts focuses on the material performance improvement, optimization calculation and multi-part integration technology under extreme working conditions to reduce the volume and quality; At the same time in the forming technology and production cost should also have a breakthrough.