Paper number 1263

DEVELOPMENT OF MAGNESIUM-MATRIX COMPOSITES FOR POWER TRAIN APPLICATIONS

Karl Ulrich Kainer

Institut für Werkstoffkunde und Werkstofftechnik, Technische Universität Clausthal
Agricolastrasse 6, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

Summary

As a result of the demands made in transport technology, particularly in automobile, to use more light materials it is also necessary to fully utilise the potential of light metal alloys. This can imply substituting aluminium alloys by magnesium alloys, for example aluminium casting alloys in power train parts which have only become established in that few years. Experience has shown that there are limits to such substitutions as the high temperature properties required may not be realised. In particular, the creep resistance and fatigue properties at elevated temperatures and the high coefficient of thermal expansion may be the limiting factors. Reinforcement by short fibre or hybrid material can produce composites which fulfil the technical requirements. In this paper a survey is presented of interesting material systems together with their production route. The influence of the matrix alloys and the reinforcements on the microstructure and properties of the composite materials are discussed. The potential for substitution with magnesium composites is demonstrated by examples of an aluminium piston alloy and a crankcase alloy.

Keywords

magnesium-matrix composites, short fibre reinforcement, hybrid reinforcement, squeeze casting, creep, automotive application, mechanical properties.