High Specific Strength Metal Matrix Composites for Turbomachinery Structures

Foster-Miller, Inc.,

Waltham, MA

Project leading to a new class of metal matrix composites (MMCs) being commercialized. The MMC's are of particular interest towards gas turbine and diesel engines for military as well as commercial systems.

Hallmarks of new materials and processing are outstanding specific stiffness and strength, high temperature resistance, and low cost.

• Demonstrated 3-D isotropic Al-MMC's with tensile strength of 100 Ksi.
• Demonstrated ability to produce near net shape components using this material. Designed cryogenic fuel valve in collaboration with NASA MSFC.
• Developed NDA techniques for quality assurance.
• Produced several valve components and supplied to NASA for testing.
• Foster-Miller investment for further development and commercialization of this technology is valued at $250K.

• Target market sectors: aerospace (high pressure valves for cryogenic engines), commercial (diesel engine structures).
• Foster-Miller has realized $950K in revenues from spin-off technologies related to application of this M&P technology to diesel engine structures.
• Have identified manufacturing methodologies that will result in low-cost mass-producible components to near net shape

• Cryogenic valves for pressurized liquid propellents for rocket engines.
• Need additional funding to supplement NASA Phase II SBIR for fabrication and testing of multiple valve components.
• Engineers at AM General and Cummins interested in applying this technology to produce lightweight aluminum diesel engines for military and commercial vehicles.
• Technology applicable for tribological components - clutch and brake plates, textile guides, nozzles and pump vanes for abrasive slurries, etc.

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