Arconic (formerly Alcoa), Pittsburgh, announces that R&D magazine has named Arconic’s aluminum Micromill technology an R&D 100 Award winner. The technology reduces the production time to create rolled coil from hot metal from 20 days to 20 minutes. The Micromill’s unique production process significantly changes the microstructure of the metal, allowing for higher formability, greater strength, and lighter weight at the same time. It produces metal that is 40% more formable and 30% stronger than today’s incumbent automotive aluminum alloys, while meeting stringent surface quality requirements.
Automotive parts made with Micromill material are twice as formable and at least 30% lighter than parts made from high-strength steel.
“Arconic’s Micromill material offers a unique combination of strength, weight reduction, and increased formability that was previously impossible,” says Ray Kilmer, Arconic Chief Technology Officer. “Bringing these material benefits together changes the paradigm for auto makers, offering them unparalleled design freedom.”
Micromill material debuted on Ford’s best-selling vehicle, the 2016 F-150, and Ford continues to collaborate with Arconic under a joint development agreement announced last year.
Arconic received an R&D 100 Award in 2014 for its A951 bonding technology that enabled the historic shift to aluminum-intensive vehicles. Arconic estimates that it will grow its automotive sheet revenue approximately sixfold, from $229 million in 2013 to $1.3 billion in 2018.
This year’s R&D 100 Awards were presented during the R&D 100 Conference in Washington, D.C., where top innovators in the R&D community come together each year to review the developments of the past year, provide insight into future forecasting, and foster a collaborative environment to share ideas and network with industry peers.
