Welding Process Aids Steel's Potential to match Plastic Auto Fuel Tanks

摘要

The American Iron and Steel Institute, Southfield, MI, recently released a feasibility study showing that steel fuel tanks can meet design flexibility, volume capacity, and weight requirements for complex sanddle-shaped fuel tanks while still providing the impermeability favored for new, stringent evaporative emissions standards.The Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks (SASFT) conducted the study to explore the potential of fuel tanks made from new steels and using advanced manufacturing processes to match or exceed the performance of blow-molded, multi-layer plastic tanks that have been growing in popularity. The study used a current-production plastic tank as a benchmark on which to base a re-design in steel. SASFT is an international group of fuel system manufacturers, users, and material suppliers that AISI formed to further develop technologies and performance characteristics of steel fuel tanks.