Automotive

Stainless steel for automotive

The automotive industry is undergoing a period of unprecedented change due to the ever-growing demand for cleaner, safer and lighter vehicles. Bold moves are needed to reinvent the industry. Outokumpu offers a material that is strong, lightweight, sustainable and fully recyclable – stainless steel is perfect for improving existing automotive parts and designing new ones for the next generation of electric vehicles.

On the road to zero

Sustainability will drive major changes in the automotive industry. Outokumpu Circle Green® supports the green transition by minimizing its environmental impact while maintaining exceptional quality. The countdown has already begun – the result is the world’s most sustainable and first towards zero carbon stainless steel.

Learn more about Circle Green stainless steel

Future Proof Material

Outokumpu Circle Green® stainless steel offers proven durability and high resistance with a minimal carbon footprint. It suites for a large range of applications from exhaust systems to electric vehicle battery casings and hydrogen fuel cells making it the ideal material for a more sustainable automotive future.

100% Recyclable

At Outokumpu we believe that when a product reaches the end of its life cycle, it should be brought back to life as raw material for something new with minimum impact. Outokumpu Circle Green® stainless steel has 100% closed-loop recyclability.

Financial Advantage

With advanced resource efficiency, more efficient production methods, superb corrosion resistance, and full recyclability, Outokumpu Circle Green® stainless steel also brings great economic advantage to the pioneers of the vehicle manufacturing industry.
White Paper

Putting carbon footprint on the road for automotive construction materials

A first-of-its-kind investigtion by Outokumpu, leader in stainless steel, and researchers at FKA Aachen, has shown stainless steel to have the world's lowest carbon footprint compared with standard carbon steel and aluminum when considering both the production and use phases.

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Stainless steel - the standout solution for next-generation vehicles

Stainless steel has progressed well beyond the exceptional corrosion resistance it brings to car exhaust systems. With a new generation of grades, stainless steel is now an excellent choice for a variety of automotive applications.

 

Body-in-white (BIW) and structural components

The body-in-white (BIW) is the stage during vehicle manufacturing where all the individual components of the vehicle body are joined together. Stainless steel provides excellent strength and stiffness to the BIW and its high impact resistance greatly increases the safety of the driver and passengers. Other structural components include items such as cross members, crash boxes, door-side impact beams, pillars and further reinforcing elements. The high ductility, formability and weldability of stainless steel allow for endless possibilities.

 

Internal combustion engines and GDI systems

Stainless steel is being increasingly used in internal combustion engines due to its strength, toughness, corrosion resistance and excellent high temperature properties. Applications include exhaust valves, head gaskets and pump bodies.

Stainless steel can also greatly improve the fuel efficiency, increase torque and horsepower, and reduce emissions of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) components such as high-pressure fuel pumps, fuel rail fittings, connectors and spray nozzles.

 

Electric vehicle (EV) traction motors and battery compartments

Electric traction motors, used in both hybrid and fully-electric vehicles, benefit greatly from fully austenitic stainless steel. It is completely non-magnetic so is ideally suited for electric motor components such as shafts, support discs and shrouds. It also offers excellent heat resistant to temperatures up to 300°C.

A significant challenge for EV manufacturers is the design of safe, light and cost-effective battery compartments to house the large lithium-ion battery packs that provide traction power. In addition to saving weight and high crash resistance, the key factor is heat resistance in case of fire. Unlike typically used aluminum, austenitic stainless steel grades can survive temperatures up to 1300°C for over 10 minutes with only a small deflection.

 

Exhaust systems

The exceptional corrosion resistance of stainless steel means that it is now used widely in vehicle exhaust systems, especially around the catalytic converter area, and in components including manifold, downpipe, catalytic converter, resonator, intermediate pipe, and silencer.

 

Fuel tanks

Plastic is generally the material of choice for automotive fuel tanks. But, switching to stainless steel can offer a lighter, safer and more durable alternative that offers high resistance against internal pressure. It is also compatible with complex forming operations and is fully recyclable.

 

Internal components

Internal components such as seat structures and steering columns require materials that are stiff, resist fatigue, offer high impact adsorption for crash safety and are also suitable for complex forming processes. Stainless steel offers the ideal combination of these properties and also does not require painting.

 

Trim elements, small parts and accessories

Stainless steel offers high durability, elegant design, aesthetically pleasing appearance and ease of forming into complex shapes for interior and exterior decorative trim such as door handles and trim strips. The corrosion resistance, toughness and ease of fabrication of stainless steel is employed in a wide variety of small machined parts and accessories including hose clamps, springs, windshield wipers and safety straps.

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Sustainable stainless steel fuel tanks for hybrid and ICE vehicles

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Prodotti consigliati

Forta
Therma
Nastri e lamiere laminate a caldo
Cold rolled coil, strip and sheet
Barra
Outokumpu Circle Green

Downloads

Stainless steel for automotive industry
Environmental product declaration - Cold rolled
Environmental product declaration - Hot rolled
BRE – Certified environmental product declaration (EPD) – Stainless steel reinforcing bar – Outokumpu Sheffield
Safety information sheet for stainless steel in Europe
RoHS 2018
A selection of Stainless steel complying with BASTA and BVB

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