This excerpt is taken from The Metallurgy of Anodizing Aluminum by Dr. Jude M. Runge. In addition to providing a history of aluminum and a history of anodizing, the book makes a clear connection between corrosion science and the nucleation and growth of the anodic oxide, therefore demonstrating that the composition and microstructure of the base metal, as the source of the oxide, are inextricably linked to the process of oxide growth and development. This is not a book that teaches one how to anodize, but a book that explains what happens when one anodizes. The Metallurgy of Anodizing Aluminum, will be published by Springer Scientific Publishing, Co., and will be available in later this year.

The first sports car featuring an aluminum body was presented at the Berlin International Motor Show in 1899; the first engine with aluminum parts was made 2 years later when in 1901 Karl Benz, of Benz and Company, which would become Mercedes Benz, presented a new car for the prestigious race in Nice (France). As with the yacht Defender, the lightweighting provided by aluminum added to the successful performance of the car, but difficulties in metal working, lack of knowledge and the high price of aluminum prohibited its use in early mass production.

Cast aluminum transmission housings and pistons have been commonly used in cars and trucks since the early 1900’s. Aluminum and aluminum alloys appeared on the 1908 Bugatti, whose construction included extensive aluminum sand castings and formed aluminum body panels that were butt-welded with the use of the oxy-fuel torch and hand-worked to a polished condition.

Pierce Arrow bodies were cast for several years – from 1912 until 1917 or 1918. The cast bodies were enormous sand castings and were often welded as part of the assembly process. The casting thickness was between 1/4 and 1/8 in. thick, and the bodies were of good appearance, durable and structurally sound.

The six-cylinder engines produced by Pierce-Arrow were cast in pairs and secured to aluminum crankcases. Europeans in particular were very fond of aluminum and, during the 1920’s and 1930’s, made quite artistic automotive bodies using the material.

Beautiful limited production custom and racing coachwork for automobiles of the 1930’s exhibited extremely fine aluminum metal art work that reached its pinnacle during this period.

Today, cast products, primarily engine and other under-the-hood components make up more than half of the aluminum used in cars.