Materials & Processes

Introduction to Automotive Materials

SCHOOL OF DESIGN STUDIES

March 1, 2014

Authored by: Y.Uday Vikas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Task 2:- Write a short note on the evolution of the following automotive materials

ALUMINUM

PAGE 2

PLASTIC

PAGE 3

GLASS

PAGE 4

RUBBER

PAGE 5

STEEL

PAGE 6

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PAGE 7

Aluminum

Aluminum also pronounced as Aluminium is the third most abundant element and the most abundant metal on earth. It makes up to 8% of earths solid weight, Aluminum is too reactive chemically to occur naturally. The chief ore of aluminum is Bauxite, a mixture of hydrated aluminium oxide (Al2O3.xH2O) Metallic aluminum was first prepared by Hans Oersted in 1825, it was obtained by heating aluminum chloride with potassium metal AlCl3 + 3K Al + 3KCl

But in 1886 Charles martin Hall and Paul Herlout patented a process where aluminium chloride is immersed in a cryolite and decomposed electrically; this is the process which is still used Aluminum is a silvery white metal which is relatively has low density, and could be easily machined or cast, aluminium is generally soft and brittle but it could be strengthened by adding different metals and making alloys Aluminum is the second most used metal on earth and is extensively used tom make automobile parts such as Chassis Engines Body panels Alloy wheels Brake parts Levers and other functional parts etc.

Plastic

Plastic is a versatile material which is available everywhere on earth the major qualities of plastic are Lightweight Flexible Moisture resistant Durable Strong Inexpensive Optically transparent (some cases)

The term plastic is derived from Greek word plastikos which means which could be molded. Plastics are synthetic materials formed by linking together into polymers a process called polymerization. The raw materials could be obtained from petroleum, natural gas and coal. Several chemical additives are added during manufacturing process to enhance a particular property such as flexibility, toughness etc Various plastics are Poly Vinyl Chloride Polyethene (PET) High Density Polythene, Low Density Polythene Low Density Polythene etc.

Plastics are the second most used material in the automobile, various products such as seats, dashboards, levers, buttons, casings, steering wheel and mirror casings etc. are made out of plastic

Glass

Glass is an amorphous material which is brittle and exhibits optical transparency and glass transition. Most familiar glass is soda-lime glass which constitutes of silicon dioxide, sodium oxide, soda ash, lime and several minor particles. Glass was first found in the ancient Egyptian civilization over 6000 years ago, but the term glass was first used only in the Roman era, glass was a luxury element used for decorative purposes majorly, but during the Middle Ages it was considerably used to produce various objects. Due to the onset of industrial revolution and modernization quality of glass production and uses have significantly increased. Traditionally glass was produced by blow molding, since the inception of machines into the world automated glass molding machines have been developed which has substantially changed the shapes and sizes of glass bringing intricate and complicated shapes into existence. The various uses of glass are Optical instruments Building material Windows and doors Curtain walls Bowls Glasses and other wares Automotive windshields (Laminated glass) Paperweights Bottles and jars Vases etc.

Glass is an important material in the construction of an automobile

Rubber

Rubber is an elastic material available naturally or could be produced artificially. There are two kinds of rubber Natural rubber Synthetic rubber

Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene and other minor impurities along with water. Natural rubbers formed with polymers of polyisoprene are called elastomers. Natural rubber is extracted in form of latex from Para rubber tree; Charles de la meria discovered rubber in the latex of the tree and published a paper in 1736. Synthetic rubber is a polymer created from byproducts of petroleum, in 1879 Gustave bouchardat created synthetic rubber in his laboratory by polymerization of poly isoprene. Since the invention of motor vehicles the demand for rubber has increased Rubber is used majorly in automotive sector, vulcanized rubber having the maximum use; the various uses of rubber are Tires Latex products Marine products Conveyor belts Wind shield wipers Belts & hoses Various domestic products Textile

Steel

Steel is an alloy of iron with primary element being carbon along with other minor elements; steel having low quantities of carbon is often brittle as a result many other elements are added to make different kinds of superior alloys Steel history could be categorized into Ancient steel, Wooltz steel/Damascus steel and modern steel with advancement in the industrial revolution steel became a vital component in manufacturing processes Various metals such as manganese, nickel, chromium, boron, molybdenum, titanium and vanadium are added to it to improve its qualities. Steel is one of the primary metals used in the manufacture of automobiles, various parts produced using steel are Car bodies Body panels Screws Bolts Chassis Reinforcing structures Nails Springs Chorographical parts Ship building Aerospace applications structures for large architectural

And many more, thus steel is a vital part of automotive industry

Bibliography
ashby, m. (2007). materials-engineering, science, processs & design. university of cambridge. E.S.Stevens. (2002). Green Plastics: An introduction to science of bio degradeble plastics. Princeton University: Princeton and Oxford. fraunhoffer gesselschaft. (2011, 11 2). Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from fraun hofer.de: http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/researchnews/2011/november/Robot_speeds_up_glass_development.html industry. (n.d.). Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from www.aluminiumleader.com: http://www.aluminiumleader.com/en/serious/industry/ issrp. (2010, 9). Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from issrp.com: http://www.iisrp.com/WebPolymers/00Rubber_Intro.pdf lifewithoutplastic. (2011, 11). about plastic. Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from life witout plastic: http://lifewithoutplastic.com/en/about-plastic materialsengineer. (2012, 1 25). alloyin of steels. Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from materialsengineer: http://materialsengineer.com/E-Alloying-Steels.htm ochshorn, j., & taylor and francis. (2008, 1 22). steel. Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from ochshorndesign: http://www.ochshorndesign.com/cornell/writings/steel.html ochshorn, j., & taylor and francis. (2008, 1 22). steel. Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from ochshorn design: http://www.ochshorndesign.com/cornell/writings/steel.html pearson. (2013, 10). Retrieved 3 1, 2014, from erudite.com: http://www.edurite.com/kbase/differencebetween-natural-and-synthetic-rubber sakhasiri, p. (2008, march 17). Retrieved march 1, 2014, from www.scifun.org: www.scifun.org