ALUMINIUM COATING MAKES CARS LIGHTER SAY EU EXPERTS
July 1st, 2006
BY KEITH NUTHALL
A EUROPEAN Union (EU) research project has developed special technology to coat aluminum auto parts, making them tough enough to replace the steel that is usually employed, reducing vehicle weight and hence boosting fuel economy.
Automakers have long looked to use aluminum and related alloys where they can, but coating surfaces to make this non-ferrous metal sufficiently strong and durable to withstand the pressures exerted in a working auto has long been too expensive.
The energy costs in standard coating techniques have been the real problem, ...
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