Lightweighting parts is now a strategic lever for the automotive industry , at the crossroads of environmental, technological and economic issues. Meeting these challenges without compromising the mechanical performance of components requires perfect mastery of heat and surface treatments.
Why is lightweighting parts an issue for the automotive industry?
Regulatory pressure and the quest for sustainable mobility are forcing manufacturers to reduce CO₂ emissions. To achieve this, every gram counts. Reducing the weight of vehicles not only reduces their energy consumption , but also maximizes their range , a determining criterion for hybrid and 100% electric models.
At the same time, weight reduction meets a demand for increased performance . A lighter part contributes to better vehicle dynamics , with a positive impact on handling, braking and weight distribution. This quest for lightness in the automotive sector must, however, never compromise safety or durability, which requires robust materials and advanced treatments to reinforce their characteristics.
What role do heat treatments play in lightening parts?
When a manufacturer or equipment supplier chooses to replace solid steel with a light alloy , for example, they must ensure that the final part will retain its strength under real-life conditions . This is where heat treatments come in. They allow the internal structure of the material to be modified , improving its hardness , wear resistance and impact resistance .
Thanks to these processes, lightweight materials —whether based on aluminum, titanium, or special alloys— achieve improved performance while reducing the component's weight . Properly controlled treatments also ensure dimensional and mechanical stability, essential for meeting the repeated operating constraints, thermal variations, or high mechanical loads encountered in a vehicle.
Heat treatments adapted to the needs of the automobile industry
In the world of mobility, every gram saved is a victory. The lightweight part still needs to last. Among the solutions offered by Thermi-Lyon , vacuum hardening is a particularly suitable solution. It allows for deep hardening while limiting deformation , which is crucial for complex parts or those with tight dimensional tolerances.
Another popular solution: low-pressure carburizing . It ensures controlled enrichment of the carbon surface , for a precise and uniform increase in hardness, while preserving the initial dimensions .
For their part, nitriding treatments are essential to improve the fatigue and wear resistance of components , particularly on very heavily stressed parts such as gears or shafts.
Finally, tempering and stabilization operations ensure the reliability of the treatment over time. They reduce internal stresses and ensure predictable and consistent behavior of the part during operation.
How does vacuum deposition strengthen the lightweighting strategy?
In addition to heat treatments, vacuum deposition is fully integrated into the weight optimization process . Thanks to PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) technologies, it is possible to apply extremely thin and hard layers , providing additional protection without adding significant material.
This approach is all the more relevant as it is perfectly suited to modern materials used to make vehicles lighter. On aluminum or alloy steel parts, vacuum deposition increases resistance to wear and friction, thus reducing lubrication requirements and the risk of premature failure.
In the automotive industry, these coatings are used on many components: transmission components, engine parts, and forming tools used in the manufacturing of the parts themselves. They combine performance, durability, and lightness in a demanding production environment.
