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2010
Conference Paper
Titel
Welding and forming of magnesium sheets
Abstract
When it comes to bodywork construction in the automotive industry the constant striving to reduce weight continues to occupy a front-line position. Over the last few years the use of thin steel sheets has become further established, in particular as a consequence of the consistent development of new qualities of steel, Trends in lightweight construction, such as, for example, the use of tailored blanks, play a central role. Thin aluminium sheets are increasingly being used as lightweight metal for bodywork fabrication, both in the structure as a whole or in combination with steel. On multi-material design bodywork of this nature, the preferred manufacturing material for the moving add-on parts (doors, engine cowls, rear doors) is aluminium to enable easier handling of the moving parts when the vehicle is in use as well as in the interests of achieving a reduction in weight. Overall, the potential for using steel in lightweight bodywork construction has attained a high level of development with the result that the potential for further optimisation is increasingly diminishing. As a consequence, lightweight construction materials such as magnesium in particular but also aluminium are set to increase in importance in the future. In the following article we shall be presenting the results of studies into the forming and welding of magnesium sheets (AZ31), achieved within a growth cell (TeMaK).