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The use of aluminum is rapidly gaining acceptance for structural applications in the automotive industry. While laser beam welding offers many advantages for joining of aluminum alloys, it also possess certain inherent characteristics that differentiates laser beam welding of aluminum alloys from ferrous materials. These characteristics include aluminum's high reflectivity, large differences in vapor pressure between aluminum and many of its alloying constituents, and relatively low surface tension and viscosity in the molten state. This paper addresses process requirements for effective laser beam welding of aluminum alloys designed primarily for automotive applications and characterization of welded joints commonly used in the automotive industry.

Fuel economy benefits derived from improved engine crankcase lubricants have been well documented in the last 10 years. These benefits can be gained not only by a reduction in oil viscosity but also by addition of special friction modifier additives. These have been shown to operate by reducing the friction within the boundary regimes of the engine. Work has been carried out which indicates that a secondary but possibly more significant contribution can be made by friction modifiers where the hydrodynamic regime is extended to lower viscosities. As a result it may be possible to formulate finished lubricants with lowered viscosities while remaining free from wear debits. Such optimised lubricants will result in furtner fuel economy improvements.