What are the applications of stamped stainless steel strips in the automotive manufacturing field?

Stamped stainless steel strip is a kind of stainless steel strip material with excellent stamping performance and is widely used in many fields.

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Stamping stainless steel strips, with their outstanding mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and formability, have become one of the key materials in the automotive manufacturing field. They are widely used in multiple core links such as body structures, functional components, safety systems and interior/exterior trims. They not only meet the requirements of automobiles for safety and durability, but also adapt to the manufacturing trends of lightweight and precision.

I. Body Structure and Safety Components: Core Load-bearing and Protection

The body of a car is its "skeleton", and safety components are directly related to the protection of drivers and passengers. In such scenarios, stamped stainless steel strips mainly meet the core requirements of "high strength, impact resistance, and corrosion resistance". Common applications include:

Body reinforcement parts

Such as door anti-collision beams, B-pillar/C-pillar reinforcing plates of the vehicle body, longitudinal beam reinforcing parts of the chassis, etc. Such components need to absorb energy and reduce vehicle body deformation during a collision. Usually, high-strength stamped stainless steel strips (such as 301 cold-worked hardening type, 201/430 high-strength series) are selected. Their tensile strength can reach 500-1200 mpa, and after being precisely stamped, they can maintain shape stability and avoid breaking during a collision. Meanwhile, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel can prevent the connection points between the chassis and the body from rusting due to rain and de-icing agents, thereby extending the lifespan of the vehicle body.

Safety system components

Seat belt assembly Precision components such as seat belt buckles and roller brackets need to achieve complex snap-fit structures and installation holes through stamping. Usually, 304 stamped stainless steel strips are used - their excellent ductility ensures no cracking during stamping, high surface finish (Ra≤0.8μm) can reduce friction between components, and corrosion resistance can prevent rusting caused by sweat and dust during long-term use Ensure the reliable locking function of the seat belt.

Airbag trigger component The casing of the airbag gas generator, the bracket of the trigger mechanism, etc., have extremely high requirements for the precision and consistency of materials. The stainless steel strip (such as 316L, containing molybdenum to enhance corrosion resistance) is cold-rolled to ensure a thickness tolerance of ±0.01mm. Combined with precision stamping dies, complex cavity structures can be achieved. At the same time, the high-temperature resistance feature (the continuous operating temperature of 316L can reach 800℃) can adapt to the instantaneous high-temperature environment during the operation of the gas generator.

Ii. Chassis and Powertrain: Weather-resistant, oil-resistant and capable of withstanding high loads

The chassis and power system of automobiles are constantly exposed to outdoor environments (rain, sand and mud) or come into contact with corrosive media such as engine oil and coolant, and need to withstand engine vibrations and road impacts. The "corrosion resistance + high rigidity" characteristics of the stamped stainless steel strip are particularly crucial in such scenarios:

Chassis functional components

Braking system components Brake caliper brackets, brake pad backplates, etc., need to withstand the high temperature during braking (up to 300-500℃) and the chemical corrosion of brake fluid. Usually, 430 ferritic stamped stainless steel strips are selected - their high-temperature stability is better than that of austenitic stainless steel, and the cost is lower than that of 304. After stamping, the surface can be used directly (no additional coating is required) Avoid rusting caused by the peeling off of the traditional steel plate coating layer.

Chassis pipeline fasteners: The clips and brackets for fuel pipes and coolant pipes need to achieve a "lightweight + anti-loosening" structure through stamping. Commonly used are 304 ultra-thin stamped stainless steel strips (with a thickness of 0.15-0.3mm). Their excellent bending performance can achieve complex clip angles, and their oil and water resistance can prevent the pipeline fasteners from failing due to medium erosion.

Power system auxiliary components

Such as the engine oil pan reinforcing plate and the transmission housing positioning bracket, which need to withstand the vibration and oil immersion during engine operation, 316L stamped stainless steel strip is selected - it contains molybdenum, which can significantly enhance the corrosion resistance to sulfides in the engine oil, and its tensile strength is ≥515MPa, which can resist the long-term fatigue stress caused by vibration and prevent the bracket from deforming or breaking.

Iii. Interior and Exterior: Aesthetic, Durable and lightweight

The interior of a car needs to balance "aesthetics and touch", while the exterior needs to withstand sun exposure, rain, and stone impacts. In such scenarios, stamped stainless steel strips mainly leverage their advantages of "high surface quality, strong weather resistance, and easy formability"

Interior precision components

Instrument panel and central control components: instrument panel brackets, central control panel decorative frames, air conditioning outlet blades, etc., need to achieve "thin wall + complex shape" through stamping. Commonly used are 304 mirror-finished stamped stainless steel strips (surface finish Ra≤0.2μm) or brushed stainless steel strips - the mirror-finished type can enhance the interior texture, while the brushed type can hide fingerprints and minor scratches. Its excellent deep drawing performance (elongation ≥40%) enables the creation of complex curved surfaces or hollow structures, and it is resistant to alcohol and cleaning agents (for instance, there is no trace left when wiping the central control panel).

Seat and door interior parts: The gear plates of the seat adjustment mechanism and the fixed clips of the door interior panels are made of 201 stamped stainless steel strips (with a cost lower than 304 and a strength close to 304). High-precision tooth profiles or clip structures are achieved through stamping, and they have good wear resistance (surface hardness HV≥200), capable of withstanding the friction of long-term door adjustment or opening and closing.

Exterior auxiliary components

Window and body trim parts: The frame of the window guide groove sealing strip and the side skirt trim of the body need to withstand ultraviolet radiation and rain erosion. 304 weather-resistant stamped stainless steel strip is selected - with a chromium content of ≥18%, which can form a stable chromium oxide passivation film on the surface to prevent fading or rusting caused by sun exposure and rain. During stamping, complex cross-sections such as "U-shaped grooves" and "inner rolled edges" can be achieved, which are suitable for the installation requirements of sealing strips.

Headlamp components The brackets for the car lamp reflector and the fixing clips for the lamp cover need to achieve "lightweight + high-precision positioning" through stamping. Commonly used are 304 ultra-thin stamped stainless steel strips (with a thickness of 0.1-0.2mm), which have excellent welding performance (can be fixed with plastic lamp covers through laser welding) and heat resistance (can withstand the high temperature when the car lamp is lit for a long time). Avoid light deviation caused by bracket deformation.

Iv. Unique Application Scenarios of New Energy Vehicles

With the development of new energy vehicles (especially electric vehicles), new application demands for stamped stainless steel strips have emerged in "battery systems and electric drive systems", with the core focus on "anti-electromagnetic interference, high voltage resistance, and corrosion resistance" :

Battery system components

Battery pack housing reinforcing parts The frame of the upper cover of the battery pack and the anti-collision beam of the lower shell need to withstand the impact force during collision and the high temperature (40-60℃) during battery operation. 301LN ultra-low carbon stamped stainless steel strip (carbon content ≤0.03%, with nitrogen added to enhance strength) is selected, and its tensile strength is ≥1000MPa. It also has excellent welding performance (battery pack sealing can be achieved through laser welding), and is resistant to electrolyte corrosion (avoiding component damage caused by battery leakage).

Battery TAB connection piece For some lithium iron phosphate batteries, the TAB connection plates need to be stamped to achieve "ultra-thin + high conductivity". 304 copper composite stamped stainless steel strips (with a 0.05mm thick copper layer laminated on the surface of the stainless steel base material) are selected - stainless steel provides structural strength, and the copper layer enhances conductivity. During stamping, high-precision TAB shapes can be achieved, and they are resistant to corrosion by battery electrolyte.

Electric drive system components

For instance, the heat sinks of the motor housing and the shell brackets of the inverter need to withstand the high temperature (up to 120℃) and high voltage (≥300V) during motor operation. 316Ti stamped stainless steel strips (with titanium added to enhance high-temperature resistance to intergranular corrosion) are selected. Their insulation performance is superior to that of ordinary steel (no additional insulation coating is required). Moreover, the heat sink structure formed by stamping can enhance the heat dissipation efficiency of the electric drive system.