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Titanium for Automotive Applications: Challenges and Opportunities in Materials and Processing

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Abstract

Titanium offers performance as well as mass saving benefits in automotive components subjected to reciprocating and suspension loads and in components subjected to extreme temperatures and gradients. However, the extensive use of titanium is hampered by the high cost of the raw material and the special handling that is needed. This article outlines the technological and economic challenges faced and highlights some example materials and process developments that attempt to address these hurdles.

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Acknowledgements

One author (A.K.S.) would like especially to thank several people who provided material to make this article possible: Mike Holly and Peter Sarosi of GM; Randy Kirchain of MIT; Laine Mears of Clemson University; Osman Ertorer of UC Davis; S. Chandrasekar of Purdue; and Pei Sun of University of Utah. Finally, the management of GM Global R&D is thanked for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GM Global R&D, Warren, MI, USA

    Anil K. Sachdev

  2. GM Global R&D, Bengaluru, India

    Kaustubh Kulkarni

  3. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Zhigang Zak Fang

  4. Institute of Metal Research, Shenyang, China

    Rui Yang

  5. St. Petersburg Polytechnic, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Vladimir Girshov

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  1. Anil K. Sachdev
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  2. Kaustubh Kulkarni
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  3. Zhigang Zak Fang
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  5. Vladimir Girshov
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Correspondence to Anil K. Sachdev.

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Sachdev, A.K., Kulkarni, K., Fang, Z.Z. et al. Titanium for Automotive Applications: Challenges and Opportunities in Materials and Processing. JOM 64, 553–565 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-012-0310-8

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