37: Magnesium Alloys and The Future of Automotives (ft. Dr. Dikai Guan)

Cars have traditionally been made out of steel, because of its low cost and high performance. However, other materials like aluminum, carbon fibers, and magnesium alloys are being used because of their unique properties such as low weights and high corrosion resistance. In a few years you might find yourself driving a car that is mostly magnesium and aluminum. 

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Today’s guest is Dr. Dikai Guan, a Materials Science and Engineering Fellow at the University of Sheffield, as well as a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellow. In this episode he discusses what materials we use to build our cars.

In this conversation, we discuss the following topics:

• The materials in everyday cars versus a racecar 
• What determines the price of metals
• Overcoming the drawbacks of steel in car manufacturing
• The use of carbon fiber in car frames

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Thank you Joao Morgado for editing this episode!

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