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Engine & Drivetrain

Automotive

Alloys for engine blocks, crankshafts, camshafts, and transmission gears. These components operate under high stress, elevated temperatures, and cyclic loading, requiring excellent wear resistance and dimensional stability.

The automotive industry consumes more metal alloys than any other sector, with each vehicle containing roughly 900 kg of steel, 180 kg of aluminum, and 25 kg of copper. As fuel efficiency regulations tighten worldwide, automakers are pursuing aggressive lightweighting strategies — replacing traditional mild steel with advanced high-strength steels, aluminum, and magnesium alloys to reduce curb weight without compromising crashworthiness.

Material Requirements

Automotive alloys must balance formability for stamping complex body panels, energy absorption for crash safety, weldability for high-volume robotic assembly, paintability, and corrosion resistance over a 12-year design life. Cost sensitivity is extreme — material choices are often decided at fractions of a cent per kilogram. Recyclability is increasingly mandated, with the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Directive requiring 95% recovery by weight.

Key Alloys

Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) like DP980 and TRIP780 now form crash structures and B-pillars. Aluminum 6061-T6 and 5754 are used for hoods, doors, and electric vehicle battery enclosures. Cast aluminum A380 dominates engine blocks and transmission housings. Magnesium AZ91D saves weight in steering columns and instrument panels. For electric vehicles, copper C110 is critical for motor windings and bus bars.

Future Trends

Giga-casting using large aluminum die-cast machines (pioneered by Tesla) is consolidating dozens of stamped parts into single castings. Third-generation AHSS with TWIP (twinning-induced plasticity) effects promise 50% weight savings over conventional steel. Hot-stamped boron steels (22MnB5) continue to expand in body-in-white structures, and multi-material joining technologies enable mixing aluminum, steel, and composites in a single body structure.

Geeignete Legierungen

Legierung Grundmetall Eignung
SAE AISI 4340 Steel Properties, Heat Treatment, Equivalent, Hardness Chart, Density, Machinability Steel
42CrMo, 4140 und 42CrMo4 (EN 1.7225) im Vergleich Steel
SAE AISI 4140 Steel Properties, Material Heat Treatment, Rockwell Hardness Steel
20CrMo — Äquivalente, chemische Zusammensetzung, mechanische Eigenschaften Steel
25CrMo — chemische Zusammensetzung, mechanische Eigenschaften, Äquivalente Steel
2Cr13 vs 3Cr13 Steel, What is the Difference? Compared Steel
35CrMo Vergütungsstahl — Zusammensetzung, mechanische Eigenschaften, Äquivalente Steel
40CrNiMo / 40CrNiMoA — Äquivalente, Zusammensetzung, Eigenschaften Steel
40Cr Steel Equivalent, Mechanical Properties & Chemical Composition Steel
42CrMoS4 +QT (Werkstoff 1.7227) — 42CrMoS4V, Eigenschaften, Zusammensetzung, Härte Steel
42CrMo — Äquivalente, chemische Zusammensetzung, mechanische Eigenschaften Steel
(SK85) SK5 Carbon Steel Properties, Composition & Equivalent Steel
A2 Tool Steel Properties A2 Material Heat Treat, Hardness, Tensile Yield Strength Steel
AISI 12L14 Steel Properties – SAE 12L14 Carbon Steel Equivalent Material Steel
AISI O1 Tool Steel Heat Treating & Properties Steel
AISI S7 Tool Steel Properties, S7 Material Heat Treating Hardness Steel
AISI SAE 8620 Steel Properties, Chemical Composition, Equivalent, Heat Treatment Steel
ASTM A307 Bolts Grade A, B, Gr 307A Threaded Rod Tensile Yield Strength Steel
ASTM A325 Bolts Dimensions Chart, Strength, Grade A325 Structural Bolt Sizes Steel
ASTM A36 Steel Properties, Modulus of Elasticity, Yield Strength, Material Density, Hardness & Equivalent Steel
ASTM SAE AISI 1018 Carbon Steel Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties Steel
ASTM SAE AISI 1045 Carbon Steel Heat Treatment, Chemical Composition, Properties Steel
ASTM SAE AISI 52100 Steel Properties, Composition, Equivalent Steel
China 45 Steel Equivalent, Mechanical Properties & Chemical Composition Steel
D2 Tool Steel Hardness, D2 Metal Heat Treatment & Properties Steel
DIN 1.2343 (X37CrMoV5-1) Warmarbeitsstahl — Äquivalente und Eigenschaften Steel
DIN 1.3505 (100Cr6) Wälzlagerstahl — Äquivalente, Zusammensetzung, Härte Steel
DIN EN 1.2379 (X153CrMoV12) Kaltarbeitsstahl — Datenblatt und Eigenschaften Steel
DIN EN 1.2842 (90MnCrV8) Kaltarbeitsstahl — Äquivalente, Datenblatt, Zusammensetzung Steel
EN10025 S275 Steel S275JR Properties, Equivalent, Meaning, S275J2 Mild Steel S275J0 Steel
EN 1.0117 Baustahl S235J2 — Datenblatt, Äquivalente, Eigenschaften Steel
EN 1.0122 — S235JRC+C, S235JR+AR, S235JR+N: Bedeutung der Kurzzeichen Steel
EN 1.0503 Vergütungsstahl C45 — Äquivalente, Eigenschaften, Zusammensetzung Steel
EN 1.4125 (X105CrMo17) — Zusammensetzung, Eigenschaften, Äquivalente Steel
EN 1.7131 Einsatzstahl 16MnCr5 — Werkstoff, Zusammensetzung, Eigenschaften Steel
En24 Steel Properties BS970 817M40 En24T Material Equivalent, Tempering, Strength & Hardness Steel
EN8 Steel Properties BS970 080M40 Equivalent Material Tensile Yield Strength Steel
GCr15 Steel Equivalent, Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties Steel
Grade 20Cr Steel Composition, Properties, Material Equivalent Steel
Grade 65Mn Steel High Carbon Spring Steel Properties, Specification, Equivalent Steel
H13 Tool Steel Properties, Material Hardness Range & Equivalent Steel
Werkstoff S355 — Eigenschaften, äquivalente Güten, EN 10025-2 Steel
Q195 Steel Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties, Specification and Equivalent Steel
Q195 vs Q215, Q235 and Q275 Steel Steel
Q215 Steel, Q215A, Q215B Chemical Composition, Properties & Equivalent Steel
Q235 Steel Q235A Q235B Q235C Q235D Equivalent, Properties, Specification, Composition Steel
Q235 im Vergleich zu A36, SS400, E250 und S235JR (Q235A/B/C/D) Steel
Q275 Steel Chemical Composition, Properties & Equivalent Steel
Q345 Steel: Q345A Q345B Q345C Q345D Q345E Equivalent & Properties Steel
Q355 Steel: Q355B Q355C Q355D Properties & Equivalent Steel
Q390 Steel Properties, Chemical Composition & Equivalent Steel
Q420 Steel Chemical Composition, Properties, Specifications & Equivalent Steel
Q460 Steel Chemical Composition, Specifications, Properties & Equivalent Steel
S235J0 (Werkstoff EN 1.0114) — Datenblatt, Eigenschaften, Bedeutung Steel
S235JR (Werkstoff 1.0038) — Äquivalente, Eigenschaften, Zusammensetzung Steel
S235 Baustahl — Eigenschaften und äquivalente Werkstoffe Steel
S355J2 (Werkstoff 1.0577) — Eigenschaften und Äquivalente Steel
S355JR (Werkstoff 1.0045) — Eigenschaften und Äquivalente Steel
S355MC (Werkstoff 1.0976) — Eigenschaften und Äquivalente Steel
SAE AISI 1020 Steel Properties, C1020 Carbon Steel Yield Strength, Equivalent Steel
SAE AISI 1080 Steel Properties Heat Treatment Composition Rockwell Hardness Steel
SAE AISI 1095 Steel, High Carbon Steel Heat Treat, Properties & Hardness Steel
SAE AISI 4130 Chromoly Steel, Alloy Material Properties, Chemical Composition Steel
SAE AISI 5160 Steel, High Carbon 5160 Spring Steel Properties, Composition Steel
Werkstoff 1.7147 — Einsatzstahl 20MnCr5, Eigenschaften und Zusammensetzung Steel
30CrMo — Äquivalente, chemische Zusammensetzung, mechanische Eigenschaften Steel
SKD10 Material SKD11 Steel Properties & Equivalent Steel
SUJ2 Steel Equivalent, Composition, Properties, Hardness Steel
Surface Finish: 1U 1C 1E 1D 1X 1G 2A 2H 2C 2D 2E 2B 2G 2P 2R 2Q Steel
T10 Tool Steel Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties & Equivalent Steel
T7 Tool Steel, T7A Chemical Composition, Properties & Equivalent Steel
W1 Tool Steel Properties, Composition, Heat Treatment Steel
ASTM A572 Grade 50 Steel Equivalent, Gr 65, 60 Properties, Tensile Yield Strength Steel
EN 10130 DC01 (Werkstoff 1.0330+ZE) — Datenblatt, Äquivalente, Eigenschaften Steel
GCr15 vs 52100, 100Cr6 and SUJ2 Bearing Steel Grades Steel
JIS G3101 SS400 Steel Equivalent Material Properties Specification Composition Density Strength Steel
Werkstoff 1.0037 — St37-2 nach DIN 17100, Äquivalente und Eigenschaften Steel
Q690 Steel, Q690C Q690D Q690E Chemical Composition, Mechanical Properties Steel
Werkstoff 1.0570 — St52-3 nach DIN 17100, Äquivalente und Eigenschaften Steel
Werkstoff 1.7225 — 42CrMo4 +QT, Zusammensetzung, Äquivalente, Eigenschaften Steel

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What alloys are used in engine & drivetrain?
AlloyFYI lists 80 alloys suitable for engine & drivetrain, rated by suitability. Alloys for engine blocks, crankshafts, camshafts, and transmission gears. These components operate under high stress, elevated temperatures, and cyclic loading, requiring excellent wear resistance and
What industry does engine & drivetrain belong to?
Engine & Drivetrain falls under the Automotive industry sector.
How are alloys rated for engine & drivetrain?
Each alloy receives a suitability rating from 1 to 5 stars based on its mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and real-world performance in engine & drivetrain applications.