Magnesium use in cars could double in five years
Date: 22-May-01
Country: BELGIUM
Friedrich Schumann, Director of Vehicle Research for Germany's Volkswagen Group, told the International Magnesium Association's (IMA) annual conference that during the 1990s magnesium had made ground against other aluminium, plastics and steel-based alloys.
But if this growth was to continue more cooperation was needed between the magnesium industry and car makers, he said.
"Only by adopting an integrated approach to construction methods, materials and processes can lightweight construction be achieved at competitive prices," he said.
"While recognising that there is still some way to go before that integrated approach is achieved, we still view it as the key to greater use of magnesium in motor vehicles," he said.
Schumann said the main areas of magnesium use were in the drive train and vehicle interior but new applications would arise in the next five years.
"In the short term, the number of those applications will increase further, conceivably to double the present figure, and the first uses of magnesium in body components can be expected," he said, referring to a target of between 60 and 80 kg of metal per automobile.
However, more research was needed into new alloys.
A longer-term target of over 100 kg of magnesium per vehicle would not only depend on technological developments but also cooperation between the industry and users as well as successful cost reductions in the whole production chain.
These cost reductions had to address primary metal production, component manufacturing, in-house recycling and a secondary material market, Schumann said.
