Applications of Co-Continuous Ceramic Composite Materials for Automotive Components

A newly developed process allows the near-net shape fabrication of alumina/aluminum composite bodies via the immersion of a sacrificial oxide preform into a molten aluminum alloy bath. The resulting composite possesses an attractive range of properties for application in several automotive components. These properties include: high strength and stiffness, appreciable thermal and electrical conductivity, high strength at elevated temperatures, coefficient of thermal expansion of 10 X 10^-6 C^-1 and relative ease of machinability. Low cost fabrication renders this material/process ideal for components such as brake rotors and calipers, cylinder bore liners, piston components.