Ford's Trade-In: Truck to Use Aluminum in Place of Steel

WSJ ^ | 07/26/2012 | MIKE RAMSEY

[Responsibility2nd]

ALLEN PARK, Mich.

[tacticalogic]

Ya, IIRC, the space shuttle boaster rockets burned a propellant that contained a large amount of aluminum. I've built amature rockets using aluminum powder.

Aluminum will burn violently if you can get it hot enough. Thermite is made out of powdered aluminum and iron oxide, and the iron oxide is just there to provide oxygen. You usually use a magnesium fuse to set it off.

[nascarnation]

that means higher prices for the truck.

I've always felt the real agenda of the "regulators" (safety, fuel economy, and emissions) was to drive up the cost of vehicles, making them too expensive for serfs, and driving the serfs toward public transit.

It's starting to work, the average age of US vehicles is at an all time high, 10.8 years. I think the ultimate desire is to make us look like Cuba.

[anoldafvet]

I believe the OBAMA CAFE standard for cars and light trucks in 2025 is 54.5 mpg. There are almost NO vehicles today that can meet that standard. I think the Prius does but if you are over 5"5" tall, forget it.

Fuel economy is a function of weight (size) and efficiency. Todays technology is pretty close to the maximum efficiency for a Rankine Cycle (Internal combustion) engine. Without a new engine, the entire car will have to be made of rice paper and only allow one passenger.

[Errant]

Yes, aluminum will burn if supported but magnesium will burn practically on it's own.

[truth_seeker]

Sure is great to see good old American leadership at work but here are some interesting facts:

In 2002 Audi built thei 150,000th aluminum vehicle

In 1923 Audi experimented with alloy engines and auto bodies

http://www.audiworld.com/news/02/aluminum/content1.shtml

The once great American auto industry took risks, was creative and innovative.

But eventually it was a giant union manufacturer, and became totally risk-adverse.

Ford could be the best of the (once big) three, but is far from the industry leaders in Europe, Japan and even Korea.

[Errant]

To further clarify, it depends upon size. For instance, powdered zinc will sponstanoulsy ignite in moist air.

[Boiler Plate]

Bismarck wasn’t a “pocket battleship.

Correct, the “Pocket Battleships” were actually large cruisers and included the Deutschland, Admiral Scheer, and the well known Admiral Graf Spee

[nascarnation]

I’m sure a Ford pickup at Audi pricing will be a huge hit.

[Boiler Plate]

Land Rover has been doing this for decades. It has worked out pretty well.

[bert]

-——is now looking at plastic.-——

I would think fiberglass reinforced plastic would be an option. The big rigs now have FRP cabs and seem to do ok. They don’t get knocked about like pick ups but I don’t see aluminum doing much better for getting beat up and knocked around.

I wonder if they mean something like high density polyethylene? That material is both strong and very tough. It will not however take a decent finish.

[Errant]

Actually, steel burns exceedingly well in the presence of a high oxygen concentration and minor support (i.e. oxy/acy torch).

[yarddog]

There was a show on TV not long ago about some of the 1930s era auto racing and some of the terrible accidents. I remember Audi (Auto Union) was one of the really active participants.

One company built a race car out of magnesium. They showed film of it after a wreck. It caught on fire and they simply could not put it out. The driver didn’t have a chance.

[tacticalogic]

It will, but in a thermite reaction the iron is already oxidized, and actually gives up it’s oxygen to support the aluminum reaction. You’re left with a slug of aluminum oxide and molten iron.

[cripplecreek]

Nuthin but used cars for me at this point. I just paid $300 for this Dodge. Its got 300,000 miles on it but its been taken care of by an old hippie from my hometown who just retired from his job as a prison guard.

[Grams A]

Thanks. I think I probably see a new one in his very near future.

I don’t care so much about what they do with cars because I refuse to drive one of those tinker toys on the freeway. I remember back when they first came out with a Ford Falcon which was a real dud and ugly to boot. Eventually we got our “tanks” back. Hopefully it will happen again. In the meantime I’ll just keep driving my several year old, paid for, comfortable, easy to maintain, non-electronically controlled Expedition.

[dblshot]

Aluminium welds have a tendency to crack under flex. The body will have to be much stiffer.

[halfright]

All those Postal vehicles are aluminum as well....Really ugly when they catch on fire...

[Mr Rogers]

I bought a 2004 Ford Explorer. Still have it, but I’ve put more into repairs for it than all my other cars combined over the last 35 years.

I’m keeping it for my youngest daughter to learn to drive in next year. If she wrecks it (& survives OK), I won’t mind if it is totaled.

[WackySam]

It’s not... steel and aluminum don’t mix. Salt eats it worse than steel.

Not if the two are properly isolated from each other- something even the people at Ford could find a way to do.

[Squantos]

Roof of my hooch in Thailand used a roll of Budweiser can material before they were cut. My tiLoc was a scrounger. Sawaadee !

Aluminum truck.... Hope it works. Maybe we can shine it up like an airstream trailer or Sky Kings Cessna 310 !

Stay safe Badger.