Magnesium Automotive Body Panels Using GM's Quick Plastic Forming Process

摘要

Hot blow molding or superplastic forming (SPF) of light metal sheet has been used to form intricate shapes for both the aerospace and land transportation industries. But the process is slow and expensive. General Motors Company (GM) materials/ manufacturing engineers, and scientists have performed extensive R&D to develop a process which can blow mold superplastic parts rapidly. Their goal was to reduce the cost of SPF, increase the production rate and thereby increase the potential for producing series production of superplasic formed automotive parts. GM has patented over 59 inventions along their way to commercialize this technology, which they call Quick Plastic Forming (QPF). The patents have been packaged by IPCG who is now licensing the technology to OEM's and materials'/Tier suppliers. Much of the process development has been associated with producing aluminum body closure panels for fourl GM vehicles, replacing heavier steel parts. But there has been a considerable amount of effort spent on developing a magnesium QPF process. This paper summarizes GM's considerable know-how to produce prototype magnesium body panels by the QPF process, along with the patents and licensing opportunity afforded by IPCG's representative agreement with GM.