The use of steel has not been any less impactful in the world of automotives. Its ability to be machined and manufactured in various shapes through different techniques makes it a practical, cost-effective, and durable option. The types of steel used in the automotive industry can be anywhere from stainless steel, high-strength steel, high-carbon, low-carbon, or galvanized steel.
These types of steel are used in the production of various vehicle and engine components. Some examples are the following: bushings, bearings, exhaust pipes, radiators, car frames, chassis, wheel rims, and many more. There’s no disputing that steel has etched itself in the history of manufacturing as one of the most reliable materials out there.
To gain a better appreciation of a widely available, yet handy material, we look deeper into the top uses of various steel grades found in all types of automobiles. All of which allow carmakers to create new and innovative features for vehicles. Read on to learn more.
A steel raw material or pre-fabricated product can only have the “stainless” designation if it contains at least 10.5% of chromium, 1% carbon, alongside other alloying compounds. One striking feature of this steel type is its ability to resist corrosive materials. Its lustrous and light-bodied design has been synonymous with durability and functionality in many industries, not just vehicle manufacturing.
It makes sense that stainless steel would be one of the go-to materials for crafting and assembling different vehicle components together. In fact, many vehicles comprise around 15 to 2 kilograms of stainless steel found in their exhaust systems.
Fuel-combustion engines, in particular, require the use of materials that don’t easily deform or melt under high temperatures. Stainless steel is a perfect candidate for this due to its extremely high melting point of more than 1500 degrees Celsius. As you may already be familiar, the average vehicle when in use generates around 90 to 104°C in engine temperature. Having stainless steel components not only protects the rest of the driver while in motion but also ensures the safety of surrounding car materials.
Modern steel innovations have led to the development of a new grade of steel, known as advanced-high-strength steel, or simply AHSS. Unlike the typical low carbon and mild steel, AHSSs are sophisticated and complex. It’s made out of carefully selected materials with specific chemical compositions. The result is a precisely heated steel product that is tough, ductile, and has an exceptional fatigue rating.
Despite the properties present in AHHSs, they’re a preferred choice for vehicle bodies, frames, car doors, bumpers, and undercarriages due to their lightweight. Many car manufacturers nowadays are coming up with effective solutions to engineering AHHSs into a dependable automotive material that satisfies safety, cost, and performance.
This type of high-strength steel can be further classified into different families — martensitic (MS), ferritic-bainitic (FB), transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP), and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP), to name a few. TRIP and DP steels, for example, are suitable for engine crash zones, or portions that require high energy absorption. Meanwhile, MS is instrumental in improving vehicle safety and performance.
Steels with high-carbon content, known as high-carbon steel are alloys that have undergone a heat treatment method known as quenching. Whereas in traditional heat treatment of steel wherein the carbon content is dissolved into the heated iron, the rapid cooling applied in quenched steel “traps” the carbon and transforms steel’s structuring.
Unlike ordinary steel, high-carbon steel is less ductile and prone to brittleness. However, this is offset by its high resistance to wear and tear, which is why high-carbon is often fabricated into cutting tools or metal fasteners.
With these properties in mind, carmakers have also consistently chosen high-carbon steel to fashion vehicle frames, chassis, bushings, door panels, support beams, mufflers, and the like. Combined with other grades of steel, the high-carbon variety can be used in the production of a vehicle that meets safety standards, crash requirements, and even design.
Unlike its high-carbon counterpart, low-carbon steel has a much lower tensile strength and poorer yield-point runout. Also referred to as mild steel, low-carbon steel, however, has continued to find its way into many vehicle parts because it is cheap to produce and is useful for the production of smaller components.
Low-carbon steel can be found both in the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Some examples are clutch housings, suspension parts, control arms, brackets, and the like. Its decorative uses may also range from wheel rims, covers, screws, washers, bolts, nuts, fasteners, and the like. All of these are essential in maintaining the structure and stability of any given vehicle.
Cheaper than stainless steel, but more effective than aluminum, galvanized steel is another popular use of this alloyed metal in vehicle-making. Today, the use of galvanized steel is even considered a standard in any type of vehicle. Almost 80% of a car, truck, or motorcycle can be made up of galvanized steel. Coated with a thin layer of zinc coating, this type of steel can extend the life and function of the vehicle with minimal repairs and maintenance required.
Some benefits of galvanized steel are its low cost, improved durability, self-healing, and availability. In place of expensive steel grades such as AHSS and high-carbon, the galvanized steel option can offer long-lasting protection for any part of the vehicle it has been used in.
Different types of steel used in the automotive industry can be found in almost every part of a vehicle. As discussed, some of these steel can provide good strength qualities to any car — such as the case with advanced high-strength steel and high-carbon steel. Other types are more cost-effective in nature. Stainless steel, galvanized steel, and low-carbon steel, for example, still offer ample strength with very few drawbacks.
As the automotive and the steel-making industry continue to innovate, like Metal Exponents as a top steel-making organization in the Philippines no doubt that manufacturers from both fields will continue to engineer specialty steel parts and products, further solidifying the role that steel plays in both sectors.
5 Types of Steel Used in The Automotive Industry
One of the most common uses of steel in the automotive industry is to create the frame for the car, including the underlying skeleton and supporting structure that gives shape to the vehicle. The foundation of your car, truck, or SUV is typically made out of steel, as are the parts like doors and fenders that protect you from road debris and other vehicles on the road around you. Other uses of steel in an automobile include the engine itself, exhaust pipes, wheels, axles, steering columns, fuel tanks, brake drums and calipers, suspension systems, and more.
Steel, , iron and aluminum are the most common materials used in automobile industry as they are durable, easy to manipulate and have the ability to change their shape or size when heated or cooled. These properties make them perfect for use in automobile industry as manufacturers use them to build car doors, hoods, roofs, etc. Although steel and iron can be used interchangeably, there are some distinct differences between the two which we will discuss below
Different kinds of steels
There are a variety of different types of steel that are used in the automotive industry. The most common are high-strength low-alloy steels, which are used in everything from the body panels to the chassis. Other common types include stainless steels, tool steels, and heat-treated steels. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the right one for each application. For example, stainless steel is resistant to corrosion but not as strong as other kinds of steel. Tool steels are very hard and wear resistant but may be too brittle for some applications.
Advantages of steel
There are many advantages of steel that have made it a common choice in the automotive industry. Steel is strong and durable, making it ideal for car bodies and frames. It's also inexpensive and easy to work with, which helps keep production costs down. In addition, steel is recyclable, so it's a good choice for those who want to be eco-friendly. Furthermore, steel has the ability to absorb vibrations well. However, one disadvantage of using steel is that it can corrode when exposed to air or water. When this happens, salt and acid often become trapped between layers of metal; this process causes rusting and pitting on the surface.
Manufacturers are using steel
Steel is lightweight, strong and can be used in cars. It's also got a lot of benefits such as it's not going to rust, meaning that it can last a long time. Manufacturers are using steel because it is a very strong material and it has been proven through crash tests that steel is able to withstand more than 300 horsepower per square inch and more than 1 ton per square inch of force.
The skeletal structure
The skeletal structure of the automobile plus the closures are made out of steel. The structural system is built in a number of sections which are joined together by a large number of bolts, pins and welds. These components must not only be supported but also protected against corrosion, wear and heat required to travel over rough roads or on wet ground or during heavy snowfall, etc.
Advanced High-Strength Steel
This kind of technology is utilized for making various parts for vehicles. It is often used in the manufacture of aircraft, ships and heavy machinery. The advanced high-strength steels can be made using special steels with good qualities like high strength, toughness and corrosion resistance.
Characteristics of steel
As a versatile material, steel is used in a variety of ways in the automotive industry. It is often used in the chassis and body of vehicles, as well as in the manufacturing of engine parts. Steel is strong and durable, making it an ideal choice for many automotive applications. Plus, it is relatively affordable compared to other materials. One downside of using steel is that it can rust easily when exposed to water or air. In order to prevent this from happening, manufacturers coat metal surfaces with paint or lacquer.
Applications of steel
1. Steel is used extensively in cars and trucks. The metal is used for a variety of purposes, from the frame to the body to the undercarriage.
2. Steel is strong and durable, making it ideal for vehicle construction. It can also be worked into a variety of shapes, allowing manufacturers to create complex designs.
3. Steel is also resistant to corrosion, which is important in harsh climates or when a vehicle will be exposed to salt or other chemicals on the road.
4. In addition to its structural properties, steel can also be used for aesthetic purposes. For example, steel can be used to create chrome-like finishes on bumpers and other trim pieces.
Different types of steel used in industry
There are a variety of different types of steel that are used in the automotive industry. The most common type of steel is carbon steel, which is used to make up the frame and body of the car. Carbon steel is strong and durable, but it is also susceptible to rust and corrosion. Another common type of steel used in the automotive industry is stainless steel. Stainless steel is less likely to rust and corrode, but it is not as strong as carbon steel. Alloy steels are another type of steel that are often used in the automotive industry. Alloys are made by combining different metals together, which results in a material that is stronger than either metal on its own.
An overview on different grades of steel
Steel is an alloy made by combining iron and carbon. The carbon gives the steel its strength and hardness. Other elements, such as chromium, manganese, molybdenum, or tungsten, can be added to produce different types of steel with different properties. The most common type of steel used in the automotive industry is high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel. HSLA steel contains small amounts of other metals, such as manganese, copper, nickel, chromium, and vanadium. These additions increase the strength and hardness of the steel without making it brittle.
What are the types of high-strength steel?
There are several types of high-strength steel that are commonly used in the automotive industry. These include: high strength low alloy steels, bake hard enable steels, martensitic steels, and twinning-induced plasticity steels. Each type has its own unique set of properties that make it well suited for specific applications. High-strength low alloy steels are generally preferred for heavy-duty parts such as crankshafts, cylinder heads, and camshafts because they provide good wear resistance and corrosion resistance at a cost-effective price point. Bake hard enables steels to have excellent corrosion resistance but cannot be hardened to as high a level as other types. They are also not good candidates for higher carbon content which can lead to issues with toughness after hardening. Martensitic steels offer a balance between wear resistance and toughness along with good corrosion resistance at a relatively lower cost than some other options.
Is it possible to make alloys with steel?
Yes, it is possible to make alloys with steel. The most common alloying element used with steel is carbon. By adding carbon to steel, the material becomes harder and stronger. However, adding too much carbon can make the steel brittle and difficult to work with. Other common alloying elements used with steel include manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium. These elements can improve the steel's strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, and/or weldability.