Can Aluminum Composites be Cost-effective?
Caldwell, NJ — Aluminum matrix composites seem like they should be more popular. Made from reinforcing particles or fibers encapsulated in a matrix of aluminum, these materials tend to weigh less and have better strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability than traditional aluminum alloys and, sometimes, even steel. They should be a natural fit for engine components and other fast-moving parts that see high stresses or have precision clearances. “Things with inertial issues can always benefit from being lighter and smaller,” points out Bill Satzer, technical manager for 3M’s metal matrix composites lab in St. Paul, MN. Combining mass reduction with increased stiffness, meanwhile, can also help improve damping characteristics and fight NVH. For all their potential, though, these materials have traditionally cost too much for all but a few niche applications in auto racing and aerospace, “The big bugaboo has been cost,” admits Dr. William Harrigan, president of MMC Engineering Inc, a d
