Applications and Prospects of Aluminum Alloys in the Die Casting Industry
As a great casting power, China's total output of castings has maintained an upward trend in recent years. From the perspective of application distribution in the industrial chain, ferrous metal castings are still the mainstream, accounting for more than 80%. Non-ferrous metal castings accounted for 20%. The die-cast part is widely used in various fields. Aluminum alloy die castings have always been very popular, especially in the field of the automotive industry, and the market demand is great.
In 2021, automobile castings account for 25%, of which aluminum alloy die castings will account for 2/3; during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China will vigorously develop the automobile industry and promote the development of new energy vehicles and lightweight vehicles. It is expected that in the next five years, the market demand for aluminum castings has grown steadily, and it is also the main alternative material for automotive steel.
Automobiles with light weights and significant advantages of aluminum die castings
In terms of new energy vehicles, a 10% reduction in body weight can reduce power consumption by 5% and increase the cruising range by 10%. The significant increase in cruising range has made lightweight technology more efficient in new energy vehicles. The amount of aluminum used in a non-pure electric vehicle is about 206kg, and that of aluminum used in a pure electric vehicle is 292kg, which is 42% higher than that of non-pure electric vehicles. Under the trend of lightweight, the amount of aluminum used in China's automobiles will continue to grow.
The development of new energy increasing the demand for aluminum die castings
In the first half of 2022, China's automobile production was 12.117 million sets, a year-on-year decrease of 3.7%; the sales volume was 12.057 million sets, a year-on-year decrease of 6.6%. The output of new energy vehicles was 2.661 million sets, and the sales volume was 2.6 million sets, an increase of 1.2 times year-on-year, with a market share of 21.6%.
Although the production and sales of new energy vehicles were also affected by the epidemic in the first half of this year, the market attaches great importance to new energy vehicles. Under the global development trend of new energy in the future, the aluminum used in new energy vehicles will show a steady growth trend, and the proportion of aluminum supply will continue to increase.
The important position of recycled aluminum in the production of die castings
When it comes to the automotive industry, it is closely related to recycled aluminum. Recycled aluminum plays an important role in the production and application of aluminum alloy die casting, accounting for more than 80%. It is mainly used in automobile and motorcycle parts, hardware, electrical appliances and other industries. The recycled aluminum industry has the advantages of energy saving, emission reduction and recycling, which is an important way for the sustainable development of the aluminum industry. Under the background of carbon neutrality, recycled aluminum has obvious advantages in energy saving and emission reduction, and will usher in new opportunities for development.
Recycled aluminum industry having opportunities in development
According to statistics, the output of secondary aluminum will be 8 million tons in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 12%; the output of primary aluminum will be 38.5 million tons, and the share of secondary aluminum output in primary aluminum output will continue to increase, reaching 21%. Primary aluminum is a product of "high pollution and high energy consumption". With China's strengthening of environmental protection and the implementation of the policy of vigorously developing a circular economy, the proportion of secondary aluminum in aluminum production will be raised due to the good substitution between secondary aluminum and primary aluminum products.
In developed countries, the development of the secondary aluminum industry is relatively mature. The proportion of secondary aluminum production in Japan is close to 100%, the United States 80%, and Europe 60%, ranking at a high level in the world. At present, the secondary aluminum market is attracting more and more attention, and the industrial scale is developing rapidly. Although the current development of the secondary aluminum industry is facing many industry and policy-related problems, under the guidance of national policies, the secondary aluminum industry still has great demand and good development prospect.
In 2021, automobile castings account for 25%, of which aluminum alloy die castings will account for 2/3; during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China will vigorously develop the automobile industry and promote the development of new energy vehicles and lightweight vehicles. It is expected that in the next five years, the market demand for aluminum castings has grown steadily, and it is also the main alternative material for automotive steel.
Automobiles with light weights and significant advantages of aluminum die castings
In terms of new energy vehicles, a 10% reduction in body weight can reduce power consumption by 5% and increase the cruising range by 10%. The significant increase in cruising range has made lightweight technology more efficient in new energy vehicles. The amount of aluminum used in a non-pure electric vehicle is about 206kg, and that of aluminum used in a pure electric vehicle is 292kg, which is 42% higher than that of non-pure electric vehicles. Under the trend of lightweight, the amount of aluminum used in China's automobiles will continue to grow.
The development of new energy increasing the demand for aluminum die castings
In the first half of 2022, China's automobile production was 12.117 million sets, a year-on-year decrease of 3.7%; the sales volume was 12.057 million sets, a year-on-year decrease of 6.6%. The output of new energy vehicles was 2.661 million sets, and the sales volume was 2.6 million sets, an increase of 1.2 times year-on-year, with a market share of 21.6%.
Although the production and sales of new energy vehicles were also affected by the epidemic in the first half of this year, the market attaches great importance to new energy vehicles. Under the global development trend of new energy in the future, the aluminum used in new energy vehicles will show a steady growth trend, and the proportion of aluminum supply will continue to increase.
The important position of recycled aluminum in the production of die castings
When it comes to the automotive industry, it is closely related to recycled aluminum. Recycled aluminum plays an important role in the production and application of aluminum alloy die casting, accounting for more than 80%. It is mainly used in automobile and motorcycle parts, hardware, electrical appliances and other industries. The recycled aluminum industry has the advantages of energy saving, emission reduction and recycling, which is an important way for the sustainable development of the aluminum industry. Under the background of carbon neutrality, recycled aluminum has obvious advantages in energy saving and emission reduction, and will usher in new opportunities for development.
Recycled aluminum industry having opportunities in development
According to statistics, the output of secondary aluminum will be 8 million tons in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 12%; the output of primary aluminum will be 38.5 million tons, and the share of secondary aluminum output in primary aluminum output will continue to increase, reaching 21%. Primary aluminum is a product of "high pollution and high energy consumption". With China's strengthening of environmental protection and the implementation of the policy of vigorously developing a circular economy, the proportion of secondary aluminum in aluminum production will be raised due to the good substitution between secondary aluminum and primary aluminum products.
In developed countries, the development of the secondary aluminum industry is relatively mature. The proportion of secondary aluminum production in Japan is close to 100%, the United States 80%, and Europe 60%, ranking at a high level in the world. At present, the secondary aluminum market is attracting more and more attention, and the industrial scale is developing rapidly. Although the current development of the secondary aluminum industry is facing many industry and policy-related problems, under the guidance of national policies, the secondary aluminum industry still has great demand and good development prospect.
