June 7, 2021 — Southwest Research Institute will host the Automotive Corrosion Symposium in Detroit November 4-5. The in-person event is designed to foster communication among corrosion experts from within automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as material, paint and Tier 1 suppliers over a wide spectrum of industry-identified corrosion issues.
“This symposium is inspired by frequent similar corrosion events that occur in Europe,” said SwRI Staff Engineer James Dante, one of the organizers of the event. “We want to foster the same spirit of collaboration and communication. The automotive industry is constantly changing and evolving, and it’s important for professionals from the different facets of this industry gather to learn how these changes are affecting each other.”
While automotive corrosion is frequently considered a cosmetic issue, it can also affect functionality, reliability and safety of road vehicles. Dante noted that several seismic changes in the industry in the past decade have led to a bigger push for a corrosion symposium to address new perspectives and concerns. This includes the emergence of electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, as well as the increasing use of aluminum, which has significantly different corrosion properties in comparison to steel, the previous standard in car manufacturing.
The symposium is soliciting papers that provide perspective on automotive corrosion concerns facing the industry, precompetitive research aimed at addressing corrosion and corrosion mitigation strategies, governmental policies that could potentially affect automotive corrosion, and lessons learned within the industry. View topics or submit an abstract at the event website below. The deadline for submission is August 31.
SwRI has over 25 years of experience in corrosion and materials failure research. A multidisciplinary group of engineers and scientists offer a comprehensive approach to solving corrosion problems for government and industry. The Institute is home to corrosion testing laboratories that characterize materials in a wide array of corrosive environments and develop corrosion-resistant materials and coatings to withstand the harshest environments.
For more information, visit Automotive Corrosion Symposium or contact Joanna Carver, +1 210 522 2073, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.