Development of MMC for high performance Aluminium Components

Important results from the project

The purpose is to increase knowledge in metalmatrixcomposites for high performance aluminium components to make this accesible for applications and save weight in products with high demands on wear strength. The project has produced a component to a power cutter where the possiblity of weight saving of 3hg has been shown. It has also shown that it is possible to cast MMC with gravity casting and with HIP reach good ductility. Demonstrators have in some cases shown good results, but the production cost needs to be revised to ensure implementation in Commercialized products.

Expected long term effects

The project has charted areas which need attention in order to commercialize metal matrix composites. Good mechanical properties with good wear resistance are possible to achieve with improved process control, which enable increasing of aluminium in extreme applications resulting in that components that today are manufactured in iron or steel can be replaced by aluminium in the future contributing to weight reduction in for example automotive. Even electrified vehicles will need aluminium as a designing material due to light weight and good thermal conductivity.

Approach and implementation

The work has been conducted in several work packages which have focused on different applications; brake disc at Automotive Components Floby, component to power cutting tool and chain saw at Husqvarna AB, milling component at SecoTool and adjustment to new processes as gravity and rheo casting at Fundo Components and Comptech and castforging at MMA. The researchers Swerea SWECAST, Lunds University and Jönköping University have been involved in these packages. Due to close cooperation the companies have had direct use of the work performed in all of the work packages.