The mysterious world of auto manufacturing has seen many innovative changes in the past few decades and metal has always played a critical role. From the very first steel vehicles made by Henry Ford to the all-aluminium DeLorean car in the 1980s, we have pressed metal into stylish shapes for aerodynamic body parts, while engine blocks are typically made from aluminium.
- Steel – Obviously, the most commonly used metal in the making of cars, steel is the major component of the chassis and frame, while stainless steel exhaust systems are popular. The ability to withstand a collision is one of the properties of steel, yet with performance cars, steel is far too heavy; carbon fibre is now the most popular choice due to incredible strength and light weight. In the 1930s, almost all cars were made almost exclusively with steel, which made them very heavy and alloys began to be made and when aluminium arrived on the scene, this reduced the demand for steel within the auto industry.
- Aluminium – In 2022, around 15% of a car is aluminium, which is down to the weight-strength ratio. There are cars with an aluminium body, while specific components often contain this versatile metal. Aluminium engines are everywhere and these can be effectively recycled and the aluminium is reused. Pistons and piston rods are typically aluminium, as are devices like alternators; some engines have an aluminium head, with the lower section being steel.
- Titanium – This is used in the making of catalytic converters, while very expensive supercars contain parts made from this amazing metal, which is very expensive. Known to be the strongest metal, titanium is perfect for components that must tolerate extreme heat. It is not uncommon for a car maker to commission a very specific alloy, solely for their vehicles
- Magnesium – Used in some engine components, magnesium is 75% lighter than steel and 33% lighter than aluminium; when designing a car, weight saving is everything. Magnesium can be alloyed with other metals to make a material with the precise properties required.
- Carbon Fibre – Although not a metal, we simply had to include this in our list. As production costs come down, we can expect to see more carbon fibre cars on the roads and the wonder material graphene will revolutionise the auto industry.
The Recycling Industry
The car breaker yard performs a critical service to society by stripping old cars of parts that can be reused, then recycling the remainder. If you have an old car in your yard, there are companies that offer cash for cars Wollongong services, wherein the firm will handle the deregistration process and pay you cash when they collect the car. For those outside Australia, you can search for a similar service near you through an online search using your favourite browser.
You would be surprised at the number of components on a car that can be reused; the car breaker reconditions the components and offers them for sale via their website. This means huge savings when you need a new radiator or alternator and the parts are under warranty. The more we can recycle, the less demand on natural resources and if you have an unwanted car, call one of the car for cash dealers that service your area.
