Metals and Carbon Fiber used in Vehicle Manufacturing
As auto technology evolves, so does the materials from which vehicles are made. Many different metals, plastics, and carbon fiber are used to manufacture the various components of a car. Manufacturers may try different materials because each material can affect things like production cost, fuel efficiency, safety, and more.
In collision repair, sometimes, the parts of a vehicle need to be replaced. Regardless of what your vehicle is made from, it helps to know a little about auto manufacturing materials so that you can make an informed decision as to replacement parts.
Steel & Iron
Most antique vehicles are made from steel. Today, many vehicles are still made with steel and iron – but not nearly as much of it. Steel is still strong, durable, and readily available. Modern science and technology has led to new combinations of materials that allow the same durability and protection that steel can provide while increasing safety and fuel efficiency of a car.
While steel and iron provided a strong and sturdy vehicle, they did not necessarily provide a safe environment for a person in an accident. Today, the body of many cars is still built from steel because of its strength. However, many different kinds of steel are used, like steel that can crumple on impact to soften the force of the impact on a passenger.
Steel and iron are also extremely dense and heavy, which did not allow for maximum fuel efficiency. Today, most of the weight of a vehicle still comes from steel and iron but other materials have been substituted as well.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a relatively new material in the world of auto manufacturing. It is a very lightweight metal, and while not necessarily as durable as iron, it can be very beneficial in high performance vehicles. The light weight allows for faster acceleration and better fuel mileage. One of the biggest benefits of aluminum is that it is resistant to rust.
Titanium
Titanium is strong, but not quite as strong as steel or iron. It is lightweight, but still heavier than aluminum. It is also resistant to corrosion, which is why it is a valuable metal to use in vehicle manufacturing.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is another modern material in the auto manufacturing world. It’s used mostly in high end vehicles, and is commonly used in brakes. It is much stronger and lighter than steel, but it is also many times more expensive. However, in modern cars, it is used increasingly to replace formerly metal parts.
Which Material is Best?
When it comes to collision repair, it might be best to use parts that are the same as your original vehicle parts. But what happens when original parts aren’t available? Using substitute materials on your vehicle is not necessarily bad, but it is a discussion you should have with your collision repair shop.
I think it’s fair to say that people everywhere are losing trust – trust in the media, in our partisan and corrupted politics, in scientists, experts and even in capitalism itself. According to the Edelman Corporation, which runs an annual ‘Trust Barometer‘ based on the views of people in 28 countries, only one in five feels that the current system is working for them, and the one thing that unites people worldwide is an urgent desire for change.
Something is not right! But while it can be tempting the throw the baby out with the bathwater and do something extreme (like electing dishonest and buffoonish leaders, for example), it is worth remembering that in many ways the system does work, and it has raised the living standards of billions around the world.
Image credits: uzumaki2810
Take this story, posted on the subreddit r/MurderedByWords, for example.
After someone posted a photo of a modern car, crumpled and in pieces after having crashed into a sturdy, seemingly undamaged older model, one Tumblr user lamented the passing of good old American steel in modern car manufacturing. Apparently, fiberglass is to blame.
Not to be outdone, this lactating left-winger went all the way and stated that the modern-day phenomenon of fragile, crumpling cars is just another symptom of the failure of capitalism. This is the logical conclusion to any problem these days, isn’t it?
No.
Happily, someone with a better understanding of the issue entered the scene and put the misguided Marxist firmly in their place. Safety advancements in automobile technology have come along massively in recent years, and are getting better still thanks to research and investment.
Post: busted. Experts like these are handy resources to have, aren’t they? Perhaps if we had more trust in experts and scientists in general, we would all be in a better place right now!
What do you think? Has a good car safety design ever saved your life? Do you believe in the concept of planned obsolescence? Is capitalism to blame for everything? Let us know in the comments below!