Steel Treatment Paves the Way For Radically Lighter, Stronger, Cheaper Cars (gizmag.com)

Zothecula writes: Radically cheaper, quicker and less energy-intensive to produce than regular steel, Flash Bainite is stronger than titanium by weight, and ductile enough to be pressed into shape while cold without thinning or cracking. It's now being tested by three of the world's five largest car manufacturers, who are finding they can produce thinner structural car components that are between 30-50 percent lighter and cheaper than the steel they've been using, while maintaining the same performance is crash tests. Grain of salt: the positive claims here are mostly coming from the company responsible for the process.

Comments

What happens when corrosion eats 0.01in of it?

[Anonymous Coward]

When new, this may perform great. But I guess rust will eat it like any other steel plate. And then it becomes quite important what thickness you started with.

Vajk

Re:What happens when corrosion eats 0.01in of it?

[beelsebob]

Stronger cars are bad - we learned that long ago. What you want is weak (to the point of maximum energy absorption per unit acceleration) cars, and strong survival cells.

Lateral aerodynamics

[Dutchmaan]

While light is wonderful for fuel efficiency, I'm finding that with each new generation of car I drive, strong lateral gusts of wind tend to pose more of a problem while driving. This is purely conjecture of course, but I just don't remember having these troubles in the past, where it's harder to immediately compensate for a sudden strong gust of wind that can literally alter your cars course in an instant.

Re:Worked with this material

[Firethorn]

Right now all of the panels/pieces that automotive would look to replace with this have lots of spot/mig welds on them, so those areas would be much weaker after the fastening work was done.

Not to downplay your area of expertise, but note that you said 'right now'. Right now these pieces have lots of welds on them, but that's because it's the best option with current technology. There are alternative attachment methods. Bolts, screws, epoxy, slots, etc... Each has their own advantages and downsides.

Or they could just have the weld spots be thicker to accept the weld/lowered strength, while the majority of the part/panel is thinner.

Re:lighter, stronger, cheaper ...

[Tanktalus]

Right. Because all the manufacturers are colluding for higher prices, and won't try to compete with each other on improved price. All it takes is one of the big manufacturers to see an edge, and prices will drop. You won't see it from the #1 brand, most likely, but the #2 or #3 brand will see it as an opportunity to improve marketshare, and then the rest will have to keep up.

Re:Cars are for Cows.

[Z00L00K]

Fish is never an alternative to a good beef.