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Titanium in Automotive Applications

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Runge_Kutta

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Titanium in Automotive Applications
===================================

http://www.webs1.uidaho.edu/imap/Final JOM Ti in Auto.pdf

Some links:
============
http://www0.nsc.co.jp/shinnihon_english/kenkyusho/contenthtml/n88/n8815.pdf
http://engine-materials.ornl.gov/Kraft-Titanium.pdf
http://engine-materials.ornl.gov/Kraft-Titanium-2.pdf
http://sae.org/automag/material/03-2001/timet.htm
http://www.timet.com/strategicpartner.html
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=553
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1548
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1753
http://www.titaniuminfogroup.co.uk/automotive.htm
http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/alm04/3_advanced_materials.pdf
http://www.dynamettechnology.com/Main_Dynalogo.htm
http://www.dynamettechnology.com/titanium_alloys.htm
http://www.ai-online.com/issues/article_detail.asp?id=141
http://titanium-valve.com/english/index.htm
============


Here are soome highlights from an article read entitled "Management
Justification to Select Titanium Automotive Components," by Kurt Faller
of Titanium Metals Corp. (Timet),

http://www.sae.org/servlets/productDetail?PROD_TYP=PAPER&PROD_CD=2002-01-0363
http://natt.pnl.gov/Conf00/attendees/faller.html

Just a bit of background - in January 2002 TIMET created a division
"to optimize the titanium production processes, controls, quality
procedures, and supply channels to meet the needs of automotive
manufacturers." Kurt Faller is the president of Timet Automotive
(TIPRO), Morgantown, PA ( http://www.timet.com/na.html ).
http://www.americanmachinist.com/full_story.php?WID=4710
http://www.timet.com/applicationsframe.html ( EMERGING )

He remarks that titanium has been limited in it's high-volume
acceptance due to it's cost and the fact that when it is
considered, it is done on a substitution basis rather than
used in a new design where it's full potential may be realized.
Some recent applications include:

1) Toyota Altezza ( Close to Lexus IS200 ) - engine valves
2) Infinity Q45 - engine valves
3) Mitsubishi 1.8L engine - valve spring retainers
4) Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - dual exhausts
5) VW - brake line sealing washers
6) Honda S2000 - shift knobs
7) Mercedes S-class - brake caliper guide pins
8) VW Lupo FSI - suspension springs ( http://www.volkswagen.de/lupo/ )

He then lists the attributes of titanium that are particularly
relevant to the automotive industry.

1) Strength - similar to steel alloys
2) Lightweight - density is about 1/2 that of steel
3) Corrosion resistance - essentially immune to corrosion
in the automotive environment
4) Low modulus of elasticity - half that of steels but twice that
of aluminum. Useful for situations where flexibility is required.

EXHAUST SYSTEMS:
================

Z06 exhaust system saved 8.2kg (18.1 pounds). No corrosion means
exhaust system lasts longer than rest of car and no excess material
needs to be added to retain strength in the presence of corrosion.
Ti exhaust systems allow quick "bolt-on" weight savings if needed.
Production equipment is same as that for steel but special tooling
and knowledge are required.

The exact metal used is TIMETAL-LCB = (Ti-1.5Al-6.8Mo-4.5Fe)
That means that it's 1.5% Aluminum, 6.8% Molybdenum, 4.5% Iron
and the remainder is titanium.

http://www.stainless-steel-world.net/titanium/timetallcb.asp

SUSPENSION SPRINGS:
===================

Titanium can offer a 35-70% weight savings over steel. In the VW
Lupo FSI, each spring was reduced from 1.1kg to 0.65kg (40%). No coatings
are needed to deal with corrosion. The free height of the Ti springs
can be reduced by 20-50% over similar steel springs freeing up space
and lowering hood heights. The metal used is TIMETAL-LCB. No
mention of valve springs.

CONNECTING RODS:
================

Weight saved on rods allows reduction in size of crankshaft
counterweights. This reduces the interaction of the smaller
crankshaft counterweights with the oil in the oil pan. The
reduced mass of both the crankshaft and connecting rods reduce
frictional forces and also decrease noise vibration and harshness.
Cost for Ti may be offset by no longer needing balance shafts and
special engine mounts.

To date, most connecting rods have been (Ti-6Al-4V)

http://www.timet.com/6-4main.html
http://www.stainless-steel-world.net/titanium/ams4911.asp

but might be better done using TIMETAL 62S

http://www.timet.com/62smain.html

The primary costs for most Ti-conrod makers is due to finish
machining rather than material costs. Powdered metal Ti rods
are off in the future due to costs.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3012/is_4_183/ai_100627962/pg_2

PISTONS:
========

In diesel engines, aluminum alloy pistons are reaching their limits
and may require a material like titanium.

VALVES:
=======

Lowered valve mass may be used to allow higher RPM limits
or may be used to reduce valve spring loads. When the Toyota
Altezza switched to titanium valves and valve springs, the
valves were 40% lighter, the springs were 16% lighter. RPMs were
increased by 10% while noise was reduced 3 Db at high RPMs. Less
friction reduced required camshaft driving torque by 20%. Intake
valves were (Ti-6Al-4V), which is good to 450 degrees centigrade,
while exhaust valves were TIMETAL 834 with the addition of 5 percent
by volume titanium boride particles to allow operation up to 800
degrees centigrade.

http://www.stainless-steel-world.net/titanium/timetal834.asp

Ford took a 1.9 liter 4-cylinder, 2V engine and replaced the
valvetrain with titanium. Mileage went up by 0.7 mpg. For bigger
engines, a 4% gain is estimated. General Motors has pursued
gamma titanium aluminides for exhaust valves. The 2002 Infinity
Q45 uses 40 titanium valves.

VALVE SPRING RETAINERS:
=======================

Saving weight on retainers is just as useful as saving
weight on the valves. By switching from steel to titanium
on their 1.8L and 2.0L engines, Mitsubishi reduced the inertial
mass of their valvetrain by 6%. Faller recommends using
TIMET 15-3.

http://www.timet.com/15-3main.html

TURBOCHARGER WHEELS
===================

Not relevant to C6 (Maybe the Blue Devil)

BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS AND COMPONENTS:
=====================================

Titanium provides a good thermal barrier between the pad/rotor
and the brake fluid as well as no corrosion.

DRIVESHAFTS/HALF-SHAFTS, VALVE SPRINGS, BUMPER SUPPORTS,
WRIST PINS, CAMSHAFTS, CRANKSHAFTS, DOOR INTRUSION BEAMS,
SWAY BAR FITTINGS, LUG NUTS.
=========================================================
Here are a few more things to glance over. The first 2 are on MMCs.
One is about automobiles and the other is about aeronautical applications.
The latter is included to to offer another perspective and more background.

http://www.asm-intl.org/pdf/spotlights/AutoApp.pdf (See figure 3. Figure 5 is from a Corvette)
http://www.ml.afrl.af.mil/mcrg/pubs/man05.pdf

This is a snippet of an article that someone out there may want
to read. You'll have to enter the address in your browser manually.

http://doc.tms.org/ezMerchant/prodtms.nsf/ProductLookupItemID/JOM-9809-16/$FILE/JOM-9809-16F.pdf?OpenElement
http://doc.tms.org/ezMerchant/prodtms.nsf/ProductLookupItemID/JOM-0405-33/$FILE/JOM-0405-33F.pdf?OpenElement
http://doc.tms.org/ezMerchant/prodtms.nsf/ProductLookupItemID/JOM-0405-37/$FILE/JOM-0405-37F.pdf?OpenElement

TIMETs Automotive Applications Division is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania.
TIMET Corp Dev, Int Automot Applicat Div, 900 Hemlock Rd, Morgantown, PA 19543 USA
 
Runge,

Thanks, that was a cool post. I didn't realize that they considered use of titanium on all those parts and the various benefits of titanium.

I wonder how much it would cost to put a car like that together. If they saved 18 pounds by just the titanium exhaust, I wonder how much they would save if they used titanium for the frame and other places.
 

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