Aluminum alloy sheet plate is 1/3 of the weight of iron and steel, chemical, mechanical properties and steel is similar or even better than iron and steel, it is the perfect substitute for iron and steel. To make cars lighter, lighter steel is needed to replace steel and aluminum is one of the best choices.
Types and properties of aluminum alloy plates for automobiles
Aluminum alloy plate sheets for automobile body mainly include 2000 series, 5000 series, 6000 series alloy sheets, profiles, tubes and high-performance cast aluminum. Different types of aluminum alloy sheets are used in different stress parts.
Skeleton part: the most stressed part of the body, using 2000 series or 7000 series alloy aluminum plate which can be heat treated and strengthened.
Skin part: the main body part of the body, 5000 or 6000 alloy aluminum plate.
Door part: 5000 – or 6000 – series alloy aluminum plates are used.
Floor part: 5000 or 6000 alloy aluminum plates are used.
Interior part: 1000 or 5000 alloy aluminum plates are used without heat treatment.
Seat part: 2000 or 6000 alloy aluminum plates are used for heat treatment.
Casting: high performance cast alloy aluminum plate can be strengthened by heat treatment.
2000 series alloy aluminum sheet plate is a kind of heat-treated and strengthened alloy aluminum sheet. It has excellent forgability, high strength, good weldability and good baking strengthening effect, but its corrosion resistance is worse than other series alloy aluminum sheet. At present, 2036 and 2022 alloys have been partly used in automobile body panels.
5000-series alloy aluminum sheet plate is a kind of heat-treated non-reinforced alloy aluminum sheet with good corrosion resistance and weldability, but it may occur in the process of deformation under annealing and delayed yield, so it is mainly used in complex parts such as body interior plate.
Types and properties of automotive aluminum alloy plates at present
6000 series alloy aluminum plate is a kind of heat treatment strengthening alloy aluminum plate with high strength, good plasticity and excellent corrosion resistance. Compared with steel plate, the yield strength and tensile strength of 6000 series 2T4 state plate are similar, hardening coefficient even exceeds steel plate. At present, 6009, 6010 and 6016 aluminum alloy sheets have been used in automotive body exterior and interior plates because of their good plasticity, high strength and artificial aging during spray-painting and baking. The Audi A8 body panels are made of aluminum alloy. In addition, in order to enhance the cushioning ability and fatigue strength of automobiles, Germany VAW, Japan KOK and China Southwest Aluminum Industry have developed high-performance aluminum sheets and profiles for automobiles based on these alloys. At present, the 6000 series aluminum alloy plate is the main body plate.