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Automotive materials usage trends

Journal Article · · Mater. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6668341
The materials composition of US passenger cars is traced from 1960 and projected into 1990's. Sales-weighted average vehicle-weight trends are analyzed in terms of shifts in the large/small car mix, downsizing, and downweighting. The growth in the usage of lightweight materials: -high strength steels, cast/wrought aluminum, plastics and composites - are examined in detail. Usage trends in a host of other materials such as alloy steels, zinc, lead, copper, etc. are also discussed. An approximate quantitative analysis of changes in the usage of steel by the automotive industry worldwide show that about 10% of total decline in Western-World steel consumption is accounted for by the automotive industry. An assessment is presented for automotive industry use of critical materials such as chromium in alloy steels/cast irons and the platinum group metals in exhaust-gas catalysts. 10 references, 13 figures, 9 tables.
Research Organization:
Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI
OSTI ID:
6668341
Journal Information:
Mater. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Mater. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 10:3; ISSN MSOCD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English