American steel processor Archives | National Material Company

8 12, 2023

Aluminum for Electric Vehicles: Aluminum is The Future of Automotive

jane2023-12-06T17:46:58+00:00December 8th, 2023|News Blog|

The rise of electric vehicles is an exciting trend, and aluminum is becoming an increasingly popular choice for their construction. Take, for instance, the Cosmic Motors Detonator featured in Daniel Simon‘s book Cosmic Motors: Spaceships, Cars, and Pilots of Another Galaxy. This incredible vehicle showcases the future of transportation, powered by electric motors that deliver lightning-fast speeds. Participating in the electric vehicles and aluminum movement is truly a thrilling time.

The impressive Cosmic Motors Detonator vehicle exemplifies aluminum’s utilization in transportation technology. This automobile serves as a glimpse into the future of space travel, where we may have the opportunity to travel through the cosmos in equally sleek and powerful vehicles. The electric motors of this car are based on real-world technology and can generate the necessary power to propel the vehicle at high speeds.

This article will delve into the many advantages of aluminum and its transformative impact on the future of electric vehicles.

What other materials are commonly used in electric vehicle construction besides aluminum?

Manufacturers use a variety of materials to construct electric vehicles, including:

Steel : commonly used for chassis, body panels, and structural members due to its strength and durability
Carbon fiber: used for lightweight and high-strength components like the battery enclosure, body panels, and wheels.
Plastics: used for interior trim, bumpers, and other body panels.
Copper: used for electrical wiring and components like the electric motor and battery pack.

Other metals, such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium, are used in the E.V. battery pack.

The materials used typically vary depending on the manufacturer and model.

Innovation in E.V. technology has led to the development of new materials and technologies, such as graphene, a lightweight and super-strong material, in E.V. batteries and other components.

As E.V. technology advances, we can expect to see the use of even more innovative materials in E.V. construction.

Image Attribution: https://hauteliving.com/2011/11/haute-auto-the-cosmic-motors-detonator/217730/

Aluminum for Electric Vehicles: Benefits of Aluminum in Electric Vehicles

Aluminum is an excellent option for reducing the weight of vehicles, as it weighs less than steel. Aluminum can make cars lighter, enhancing fuel efficiency and extending their range.

Although lightweight, aluminum is highly durable and can withstand driving forces. This makes it an excellent choice for structural components like the body-in-white. Harsh environments such as salt water and road salt can cause corrosion in electric cars, making it crucial to use resistant materials. Aluminum is known for its corrosion-resistant properties, making it an ideal choice to help extend the lifespan of electric vehicles.

Additionally, aluminum is 100% recyclable, which makes it an environmentally sustainable material for electric vehicles. Automakers who want to reduce their environmental impact should take note of this. Lastly, aluminum is a relatively low-cost material that can help keep the costs of electric vehicles down.

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15 05, 2023

American Metal Processor Spotlight: The Versatility of Steel

maria2023-06-28T21:16:51+00:00May 15th, 2023|News Blog|

Steel is one of the most versatile materials on the planet, and National Material Company, a leading American metal processor, knows it better than most. In this blog, we’ll explore the unique properties that make steel a durable, strong, and adaptable material for a wide range of applications. From construction to transportation to everyday household items, steel has become an integral part of our lives.

Join us as we dive into the versatility of this material and why it continues to be a crucial component in various industries.

Strength and Durability

One of the most notable properties of steel is its strength and durability. Steel is known for its high tensile strength, which means it can withstand a lot of stress without breaking or deforming. This makes it ideal for use in construction, where it can be used to create buildings, bridges, and other structures that need to support a lot of weight and withstand harsh weather conditions.

Flexibility and Malleability

While steel is incredibly strong, it is also remarkably flexible and malleable. This means it can be shaped and molded into a variety of forms without losing its strength. This makes it ideal for use in manufacturing, where it can be used to create everything from car parts to household appliances.

Corrosion Resistance

Another important property of steel is its resistance to corrosion. Steel, when properly treated, is highly resistant to rust and other forms of corrosion, making it an ideal choice for various applications. For instance, steel coils can undergo a galvanizing process in a continuous galvanizing line, like the one available at National Galvanizing – a National Material partner company. This process involves applying a galvanized coating to the steel, which further enhances its corrosion resistance. Galvanized steel is widely used in automotive manufacturing, appliances, agricultural equipment, and other demanding applications where superior corrosion protection is essential.

Notably, galvanized steel body panels are highly sought after by automakers due to their exceptional corrosion protection. These panels enable automakers to offer corrosion-free performance for extended periods, often guaranteeing a decade or longer of rust-free operation.

Recyclability

Steel is also highly recyclable, which makes it an environmentally friendly choice. When steel products reach the end of their useful life, they can be recycled and used to create into new steel products, reducing the need for new steel production, and conserving natural resources.

Cost-Effectiveness

Finally, steel is a cost-effective, widely available material and is easy to manufacture. This makes it an affordable choice for a wide range of applications, from construction to manufacturing to consumer goods. American metal processors like NMC have the expertise to offer cost-effective solutions to their customers. By leveraging their knowledge of steel processing and manufacturing, they can produce high-quality products at competitive prices.

What are the types of steel and how is it determined?

Steel types are determined based on various factors, including their chemical composition, physical properties, and intended use. The main elements that determine the properties of steel are carbon, alloying […]

15 04, 2023

American Steel Processor Spotlight: Roll Forming

maria2023-05-10T16:10:53+00:00April 15th, 2023|News Blog|

Roll forming plays a critical role in the steel manufacturing industry by shaping steel products in a way that can significantly impact their strength, durability, and performance. As you look around, you’ll notice that every object has a shape that distinguishes it from others, and this is equally true for steel products. From the curves and angles of a car frame to the outline and contours of a building’s roof, this process plays a vital role in shaping our world.

That’s why we’re putting roll forming in the spotlight and showcasing how National Material Company (NMC) leads the industry in this process.

Roll forming is a manufacturing process that is commonly used in the steel industry to shape sheet metal into various cross-section profiles. In a nutshell, it’s a continuous process that involves passing a metal strip or sheet through a series of rollers. This method is highly precise, and the rollers are designed and/or calibrated to gradually shape the material – making complex shapes possible with tight tolerances and consistent quality.

How Roll Forming Changed the Steel Industry

Its origin can be traced back to the late 19th century when the first roll forming machines were developed in Europe and the United States. These early machines were used primarily for producing simple shapes, such as roofing panels and gutters, and were powered by manual or hydraulic systems.

Prior to the invention of this process, shaping metal into various forms was a labor-intensive process that required skilled craftsmen to forge, cast, or fabricate the material by hand. Some of the most common processes used are forging, casting, extrusion, machining, and stamping.

While these processes are still used today for certain applications, roll forming offered several advantages over these traditional methods, including faster production times, lower labor costs, and the ability to produce more complex shapes and profiles. By feeding a continuous strip of metal through a series of rollers, roll forming machines could produce long, uniform sections of material with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability.

Roll Forming Process

Determining the specifications for the profile – in addition to form and function – is the initial stage of the production process. This includes the material type, thickness, width, length, and the desired cross-sectional shape.

The profile is then sketched out in 2D, or 3D using CAD (computer-aided design) software and should meet the specific requirements – including any tolerances or other design constraints. A flat pattern (two-dimensional representation) is then created and shows how the profile will look when it is unrolled into a flat sheet.

The next step is to add the necessary tooling to the forming machine. This includes the rollers, guides, and other components that are required to produce the profile. Once the profile design is complete, it is simulated using roll-forming software to ensure that the design is feasible and that the tooling is correct. Once the design is finalized, a prototype of the profile is produced and tested to ensure […]