SteelWorks
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- DC
As the title implies, I'm gauging interest for lightweight/high strength options for steel off-road bumpers and skid plates/armor.
To make a long story short, I'm in the (preliminary) phase of working with an alloy of steel that has the potential to have a higher specific strength than titanium - and I'd like to offer it to the off road community. I'm partial to the "old school" Jeep community because many of you have extensive experience with what works and what doesn't.
However, there are some options, and I'm attempting to give the community what it wants. The material is approximately 3x stronger than chromoly - which makes it even pound for pound, stronger than titanium. Therefore, I could make off road armor that is quite frankly, absurdly strong, or make armor that is the same strength as traditional mild steel armor, but at a significant weight savings. Or of course, anywhere in between.
For simple math, we'll use a bumper as an example, and say that it weighs 50lbs (which I realize is conservative). Conservatively, you can expect this material to be 50% lighter, to save 25 lbs.
Also, I'm going to attempt to answer a couple of questions for those of you who are skeptical (rightfully so). And those questions are -
Is it ridiculously hard and therefore, very difficult, if not impossible to weld?
No. It can be welded with conventional filler material.
(Similar question) Is it so brittle (non-ductile) that it will shatter rather than bend if (when) we manage to break it?
No. It retains its ductility, similar to high alloy, ductile steel (similar to chromoly).
So my first question for you is:
What strategy do you prefer? Super weight savings, super strength, or in between (a little of both)?
I appreciate your input already and I'm anxious to hear your thoughts - thanks in advance!
To make a long story short, I'm in the (preliminary) phase of working with an alloy of steel that has the potential to have a higher specific strength than titanium - and I'd like to offer it to the off road community. I'm partial to the "old school" Jeep community because many of you have extensive experience with what works and what doesn't.
However, there are some options, and I'm attempting to give the community what it wants. The material is approximately 3x stronger than chromoly - which makes it even pound for pound, stronger than titanium. Therefore, I could make off road armor that is quite frankly, absurdly strong, or make armor that is the same strength as traditional mild steel armor, but at a significant weight savings. Or of course, anywhere in between.
For simple math, we'll use a bumper as an example, and say that it weighs 50lbs (which I realize is conservative). Conservatively, you can expect this material to be 50% lighter, to save 25 lbs.
Also, I'm going to attempt to answer a couple of questions for those of you who are skeptical (rightfully so). And those questions are -
Is it ridiculously hard and therefore, very difficult, if not impossible to weld?
No. It can be welded with conventional filler material.
(Similar question) Is it so brittle (non-ductile) that it will shatter rather than bend if (when) we manage to break it?
No. It retains its ductility, similar to high alloy, ductile steel (similar to chromoly).
So my first question for you is:
What strategy do you prefer? Super weight savings, super strength, or in between (a little of both)?
I appreciate your input already and I'm anxious to hear your thoughts - thanks in advance!