Application Status of Titanium Alloy in Automobile Industry
Titanium alloy parts currently contain the following more commonly used.
1.Engine connecting rod
Titanium is perfect for connecting rods. Engine made of titanium alloy connecting rod can effectively reduce engine quality, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Compared to the steel connecting rod, titanium link can reduce the quality of 15% to 20%. The application of the titanium alloy link was first demonstrated on the new Italian Ferrari sedan 3.5LV8 and the Acura NSX Engine. Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, Ti-3Al-2.0V and Ti-4Al-4Mo-Sn-0.5Si are the principal materials used for the titanium alloy rod. Other titanium alloy materials such as Ti-4Al -2Si-4Mn and Ti-7M-4Mo and other applications in the rod are also under development.
2. Engine Valve
Automotive engine valves are made of titanium alloy not only reduce the quality and extend the service life, but also reduce fuel consumption and increase vehicle reliability. Titanium valve compared with the steel valve, the quality can decrease by 30% to 40%, the engine speed limit can be increased by 20%. For the current application, the material of the intake valve is mainly Ti-6Al-4V, and the material of the exhaust valve is mainly Ti-6242S. Usually, Sn and Al are added together to obtain lower brittleness and higher of the strength; Mo addition can improve the heat treatment of titanium alloys, strengthening the strength of quenching and aging titanium alloy, while increasing the hardness. Other titanium alloys with potential for growth include:
1) Ti-62S intake valve can be used, its characteristics are equal to Ti-6Al-4V, and cheaper prices.
2) The exhaust valve can be Ti-6Al-2Sn-4.0Zr-0.4-Mo-0.45Si, because of the lower Mo content, so its resistance to creep resistance Ti-6242S superior resistance to oxidation temperature up to 600.
3) The exhaust valve can be γ-TiAl, which has the characteristics of high temperature resistance and lightweight, but the processing is not suitable for the traditional forging method, only suitable for casting and powder metallurgy processing.
3 valve spring seat
High strength and fatigue resistance are the valve spring seat must have the performance, beta titanium alloy heat treatment alloy, by solution treatment aging to obtain high strength, the corresponding more suitable material Ti-15V-3Cr- 3Al-3Sn and Ti-15Mo-3Al-2.7Nb-0.2Si. Mitsubishi Motors uses Ti-22V-4Al titanium alloy valve spring seat in its large-scale production vehicles to reduce the mass of 42% compared with the original steel lock, the valve mechanism reduces the inertial mass by 6%, and maximum engine speed increases 300r / min.
4. Titanium alloy spring
Titanium and its alloys are under a lower modulus of elasticity relative to the steel material and a larger σs / E value, making it suitable for the manufacture of flexible elements. Compared with the steel automobile spring, under the premise of the same elastic work, the height of the titanium spring is only 40% of the steel spring, and the mass is only 30-40% of that of the steel spring, which is convenient for the body design. In addition, titanium alloy excellent fatigue properties and corrosion resistance can improve the service life of the spring. At present, titanium alloy materials that can be utilized to manufacture manufacture automotive springs are Ti-4.5Fe6.8Mo-1.5Al and Ti-13V11C-3Al.
Turbocharger
Turbochargers can improve the combustion efficiency of the engine and enhance the power and torque of the engine. Turbocharger Turbine rotors need long-term work in the high temperature exhaust gas above 850, so require good heat resistance. Traditional light metal, such as aluminum, cannot be used because of their low melting point. Although ceramic materials are used on turbine rotors due to their light weight and high temperature resistance, their application is restricted due to their high cost and unspecified shape. In order to solve these problems, Tetsui et al. developed the TiAl turbine rotor. After several experiments, it has not only excellent durability and performance, but also improved engine acceleration.
6. Exhaust system and muffler
Titanium is heavily employed in the exhaust system of a car. Exhaust systems are made of titanium and its alloys not only increase reliability, extend life and improve appearance, but also reduce quality and fuel burn efficiency. Titanium exhaust system compared with the steel exhaust system, the quality can decrease by about 40%. In the Golf series of cars, titanium exhaust system can reduce the quality of 7 ~ 9kg, the exhaust system is mainly used for titanium industry.
Titanium Muffler quality is only 5 ~ 6kg, lighter than stainless steel muffler. 2000 Chevrolet CorvetteZ06 cars with a 11.8kg titanium mufflers and exhaust pipe system to replace the original 20kg stainless steel system, reducing the quality of 41%. The strength of the system, after the replacement will not change, making the car faster, more flexible and saving fuel. Mufflers used titanium is also mainly industrial titanium.
7. Body frame part
In order to improve the safety and reliability of vehicles, consideration needs to take into consideration to the design and manufacture, especially the manufacturing of materials. Titanium is a very satisfactory material for making bodywork frames, which not only have a high strength but also have good toughness. In Japan, automakers chose pure titanium welded pipe to make a body frame that would give motorists enough safety when driving.
8. Other titanium parts
In addition to the above components, titanium is also used in engine rockers, suspension springs, engine piston pins, automotive fasteners, hanging ears nuts, car door into the beam, car stop bracket, brake caliper piston, pin bolt, pressure Board, speed buttons and automotive clutch disc and other automotive parts.
Advantages
Titanium alloy with lightweight, high strength, good corrosion resistance, it is widely used in the automotive industry, the application of titanium alloy is the largest automotive engine system. The use of titanium alloy engine parts has many benefits, mainly in:
1) The low density of titanium alloy can reduce the inertial mass of the moving parts, meanwhile, the titanium valve spring can increase the free vibration, weaken the vibration of the car body, and increase the engine speed and output power.
2) reduce the inertial mass of moving parts, so that the friction decreases, improve the engine's fuel efficiency.
3) Select titanium alloy can reduce the load stress of related parts, reduce the size of parts, so that the quality of the engine and vehicle to decrease.
4) Reduced inertial mass of parts, resulting in less vibration and noise and improved engine performance.
Titanium Alloy in other parts of the application can improve the comfort of personnel and automotive beauty and so on. In the automotive industry, titanium alloy has played an inestimable role in saving energy and reducing consumption.
2. Application Restrictions
Titanium alloy parts, despite their superior performance, are still widely used in the automotive industry from titanium and its alloys owing to the problems of high cost, poor formability and poor weldability.
With the recent near-net titanium forming technology and electron beam welding, plasma arc welding, laser welding and other modern welding technology development, titanium alloy forming and welding problems is no longer a key factor restricting the application of titanium alloys, hinder the titanium alloy The main reason commonly used in the automotive industry is still the cost is too high.
Titanium alloy parts currently contain the following more commonly used.
1.Engine connecting rod
Titanium is perfect for connecting rods. Engine made of titanium alloy connecting rod can effectively reduce engine quality, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Compared to the steel connecting rod, titanium link can reduce the quality of 15% to 20%. The application of the titanium alloy link was first demonstrated on the new Italian Ferrari sedan 3.5LV8 and the Acura NSX Engine. Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al, Ti-3Al-2.0V and Ti-4Al-4Mo-Sn-0.5Si are the principal materials used for the titanium alloy rod. Other titanium alloy materials such as Ti-4Al -2Si-4Mn and Ti-7M-4Mo and other applications in the rod are also under development.
2. Engine Valve
Automotive engine valves are made of titanium alloy not only reduce the quality and extend the service life, but also reduce fuel consumption and increase vehicle reliability. Titanium valve compared with the steel valve, the quality can decrease by 30% to 40%, the engine speed limit can be increased by 20%. For the current application, the material of the intake valve is mainly Ti-6Al-4V, and the material of the exhaust valve is mainly Ti-6242S. Usually, Sn and Al are added together to obtain lower brittleness and higher of the strength; Mo addition can improve the heat treatment of titanium alloys, strengthening the strength of quenching and aging titanium alloy, while increasing the hardness. Other titanium alloys with potential for growth include:
1) Ti-62S intake valve can be used, its characteristics are equal to Ti-6Al-4V, and cheaper prices.
2) The exhaust valve can be Ti-6Al-2Sn-4.0Zr-0.4-Mo-0.45Si, because of the lower Mo content, so its resistance to creep resistance Ti-6242S superior resistance to oxidation temperature up to 600.
3) The exhaust valve can be γ-TiAl, which has the characteristics of high temperature resistance and lightweight, but the processing is not suitable for the traditional forging method, only suitable for casting and powder metallurgy processing.
3 valve spring seat
High strength and fatigue resistance are the valve spring seat must have the performance, beta titanium alloy heat treatment alloy, by solution treatment aging to obtain high strength, the corresponding more suitable material Ti-15V-3Cr- 3Al-3Sn and Ti-15Mo-3Al-2.7Nb-0.2Si. Mitsubishi Motors uses Ti-22V-4Al titanium alloy valve spring seat in its large-scale production vehicles to reduce the mass of 42% compared with the original steel lock, the valve mechanism reduces the inertial mass by 6%, and maximum engine speed increases 300r / min.
4. Titanium alloy spring
Titanium and its alloys are under a lower modulus of elasticity relative to the steel material and a larger σs / E value, making it suitable for the manufacture of flexible elements. Compared with the steel automobile spring, under the premise of the same elastic work, the height of the titanium spring is only 40% of the steel spring, and the mass is only 30-40% of that of the steel spring, which is convenient for the body design. In addition, titanium alloy excellent fatigue properties and corrosion resistance can improve the service life of the spring. At present, titanium alloy materials that can be utilized to manufacture manufacture automotive springs are Ti-4.5Fe6.8Mo-1.5Al and Ti-13V11C-3Al.
Turbocharger
Turbochargers can improve the combustion efficiency of the engine and enhance the power and torque of the engine. Turbocharger Turbine rotors need long-term work in the high temperature exhaust gas above 850, so require good heat resistance. Traditional light metal, such as aluminum, cannot be used because of their low melting point. Although ceramic materials are used on turbine rotors due to their light weight and high temperature resistance, their application is restricted due to their high cost and unspecified shape. In order to solve these problems, Tetsui et al. developed the TiAl turbine rotor. After several experiments, it has not only excellent durability and performance, but also improved engine acceleration.
6. Exhaust system and muffler
Titanium is heavily employed in the exhaust system of a car. Exhaust systems are made of titanium and its alloys not only increase reliability, extend life and improve appearance, but also reduce quality and fuel burn efficiency. Titanium exhaust system compared with the steel exhaust system, the quality can decrease by about 40%. In the Golf series of cars, titanium exhaust system can reduce the quality of 7 ~ 9kg, the exhaust system is mainly used for titanium industry.
Titanium Muffler quality is only 5 ~ 6kg, lighter than stainless steel muffler. 2000 Chevrolet CorvetteZ06 cars with a 11.8kg titanium mufflers and exhaust pipe system to replace the original 20kg stainless steel system, reducing the quality of 41%. The strength of the system, after the replacement will not change, making the car faster, more flexible and saving fuel. Mufflers used titanium is also mainly industrial titanium.
7. Body frame part
In order to improve the safety and reliability of vehicles, consideration needs to take into consideration to the design and manufacture, especially the manufacturing of materials. Titanium is a very satisfactory material for making bodywork frames, which not only have a high strength but also have good toughness. In Japan, automakers chose pure titanium welded pipe to make a body frame that would give motorists enough safety when driving.
8. Other titanium parts
In addition to the above components, titanium is also used in engine rockers, suspension springs, engine piston pins, automotive fasteners, hanging ears nuts, car door into the beam, car stop bracket, brake caliper piston, pin bolt, pressure Board, speed buttons and automotive clutch disc and other automotive parts.
Advantages
Titanium alloy with lightweight, high strength, good corrosion resistance, it is widely used in the automotive industry, the application of titanium alloy is the largest automotive engine system. The use of titanium alloy engine parts has many benefits, mainly in:
1) The low density of titanium alloy can reduce the inertial mass of the moving parts, meanwhile, the titanium valve spring can increase the free vibration, weaken the vibration of the car body, and increase the engine speed and output power.
2) reduce the inertial mass of moving parts, so that the friction decreases, improve the engine's fuel efficiency.
3) Select titanium alloy can reduce the load stress of related parts, reduce the size of parts, so that the quality of the engine and vehicle to decrease.
4) Reduced inertial mass of parts, resulting in less vibration and noise and improved engine performance.
Titanium Alloy in other parts of the application can improve the comfort of personnel and automotive beauty and so on. In the automotive industry, titanium alloy has played an inestimable role in saving energy and reducing consumption.
2. Application Restrictions
Titanium alloy parts, despite their superior performance, are still widely used in the automotive industry from titanium and its alloys owing to the problems of high cost, poor formability and poor weldability.
With the recent near-net titanium forming technology and electron beam welding, plasma arc welding, laser welding and other modern welding technology development, titanium alloy forming and welding problems is no longer a key factor restricting the application of titanium alloys, hinder the titanium alloy The main reason commonly used in the automotive industry is still the cost is too high.
