titanium bodywork,is it possible?

[unclemark123]

as the title, is it possible to have body panels made in titanium ?

will it press form under heat, the same way as steel ?

obviously it would be expensive, but would make an ultra strong/corrosion proof and light body.

mark.

[PJ S]

Cheaper to make the part from Carbon Fibre instead - just as strong and corrosion proof, and no galvanic concerns too!

[red_slr]

Anything is possible.

[dirty boy]

red_slr said:

Anything is possible.

money talks

[domster]

I am not sure it is flexible, so can't be bent from a sheet into curves and stuff. So you'd need to mould it, which adds to complication, weight and expense. Not entirely sure, but that's what I remember from buildings like the Guggenheim in Bilbao as it has titanium tiles covering it, rather than curved sheets, for this reason. Maybe you can tile a car

[Top Banana]

Its def. possible - have a google about 'superplastic forming'

the aerospace guys use it to form complex curved panels for jet
engines, so body panels shouldn't present to many issues, but I think
your wallet mike take a battering :-)

cheers - Tb

[domster]

Thanks TB, interesting to know. But yes, seems pricier than getting the bodyshop to hit it with hammers

[johnnywgk]

Unclemark, i hope that TVR bodywork aint going rusty

[tegwin]

Top Banana said:

Its def. possible - have a google about 'superplastic forming'

the aerospace guys use it to form complex curved panels for jet
engines, so body panels shouldn't present to many issues, but I think
your wallet mike take a battering :-)

cheers - Tb

Correct me if I am wrong, but all of the tit turbine housings I have seen are either cast or extrusion formed..... Not stamped or shaped as a car body panel would be...

[Top Banana]

Hi Tegwin

I have worked with aerospace companies to develop the special heated
presses used with superplastic forming.

it effectively removes the 'memory' effect in titanium, where a pressing normally
wants to revert to its flat shape. The parts are used for outer turbine cowlings and other complex curved pieces. Some of the largest I have seen formed are at least as big as a car bonnet.

Have a google for superplastic titanum, i'm sure theres loads of info about where
the parts are used

[philworrall]

There are lots of sheet components on modern military aircraft especially near the engine exhaust.

These are definitely NOT cast

[Scooby72]

Definatly possible, but expensive, which is probably why you only really see it in the aerospace sector.

http://www.aeromet.co.uk/forming-division/gallery/

[Flibble]

Why not go stainless steel for the 80s Delorean look?

[Steve748]

Flibble said:

Why not go stainless steel for the 80s Delorean look?

Just a bit on the heavy side, that's why the DeLorean was so slow

[jagman21]

It must be possible they've (merc slr) built cars with magnesium bodies in the 50's, its incredibly dangerous to weld though, very flamble, which is why the stirling moss car was restored and the body completely replaced with aluminium it was just easier to replace the whole thing.

PS sr71 blackbird is sheet titanium so it can be done.

but the main reason was strength at high temperatures, and as cars don't get to temperatures where titaniuim comes into its own and the strength can be equaled with composites, its pretty much pointless.

[Zad]

Here is a sample price for Titanium :

TI227937 0.5mm x 305mm coil 2m £1111.00

Ouch