Brake Discs Made of Aluminum-Matrix-Composites

Aluminum-based metal-matrix-composites (AMCs) show attractive properties to meet the growing demand for lightweight construction for example in the automotive and aerospace industries. Limiting factors are difficulties in processing and machining as well as comparably low operating temperatures. The first issue is addressed using spark plasma sintering (SPS) to produce fully dense net-shape compacts. Therefore, the electrical properties of the powders must be understood and adjusted. To increase operation temperature, alloys with thermally more stable Al<inf>3</inf>Fe dispersoids, certain intermetallic phases, or complex constitutional alloys have been investigated. The latter are developed with the help of a systematic selection process to calculate the thermodynamic and kinetic criteria to predict the phases formed. Those AMCs show melting temperatures above 1000 °C while keeping the density below 4, 5 g/cm^3. Aiming for compressive strength > 800 MPa and elongation to fraction > 1 % makes the materials suitable e.g. for front wheel brake disc applications.