Understanding the interplay of grains helps cars drop the pounds, be more fuel efficient
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 - 09:00
in Physics & Chemistry
Sometimes solving the biggest challenges begins with understanding something very small -- like the tiny grains that form a piece of metal. For a team of scientists who wanted to improve automotive fuel efficiency, understanding and controlling the size of the grains in aluminum allowed the design of an easy and inexpensive method for producing lightweight automotive parts, replacing heavier steel, leading to improved fuel efficiency. This method is known as superplastic forming or SPF; the process relies on a tailor-made metal that can stretch into a complex shape, such as a trunk lid. The process was not used for car components because of the expensive additives and complicated processes required to create the appropriate aluminum alloy.