Page 16 - MetalForming September 2014

Materials & Coatings
Demand for Lightweight Automotive Materials on the Rise
New Titanium and Stainless-Steel Alloys for Additive Manufacturing
Demand by North American light-vehicle manufacturers for lightweight automotive materials (metals, polymers and composites) is expected to climb 5.2 percent annual- ly to 22.3 billion lb. in 2018. The race to lighten automobiles largely is being driven by increasingly strict fuel economy standards—these and other trends are presented in Light- weight Automotive Materials in North America, a study from The Freedonia Group Cleve- land, OH.
Germany-based EOS, a provider of additive-manufacturing equipment and
Among noted applications for newer, lighter-weight materials are exterior and struc- tural components, expect- ed to account for nearly 75 percent of total average vehi- cle weight reduction through
The Growing Demand for Lightweight Automotive Materials (millions of lb.)
2008
2013
2018
Metal Alloys
6160
10,165
14,260
Polymers, Composites
5235
7135
8020
2023.
Aluminum will enjoy rapid
growth in exterior and struc- tural applications as automakers explore its use in place of steel for body components such as clo-
materials with U.S. headquarters in Novi, MI, has developed two new materials for additive manufacturing with metals (laser sintering): EOS Titanium Ti64ELI and EOS StainlessSteel 316L. Says Christiane Krem- pl, product marketing manager, metals: “A broader variety of titanium and stainless-
sures and panels. Meanwhile, look for high-strength steel to offer the best opportuni- ties for growth based on its relatively low cost and the ongoing development of new grades that combine strength and formability, ideal for structure and frame applications.