Spec for Metal Matrix Composite Offers a New Option for Aerospace
Engineers
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Materion Corporation (NYSE:MTRN) announced that the Society of
Automotive Engineers - Aerospace Material Specification Nonferrous
Alloys Committee (SAE-AMS) has approved and published aerospace
specification AMS4355
for Materion's SupremEX®
225XE, a particle-reinforced aerospace-grade aluminum metal matrix
composite. Publication of a SAE-AMS specification offers design
engineers a new lightweight material, facilitates use by manufacturers
and helps ensure a supply base to meet demand.
SupremEX 225XE is made by reinforcing a high-quality aerospace aluminum
alloy with 25 volume percent ultrafine silicon carbide particles.
Materion uses a proprietary mechanical alloying process that ensures
excellent particle distribution and enhanced mechanical properties.
The composite is superior to conventional alloys because it combines the
lightweight properties of aluminum with outstanding strength and
stiffness. SupremEX products can be used to replace aluminum, titanium,
steel, other structural alloys and composites.
The AMS4355 specification covers SupremEX 225XE in reinforced, hot
isostatically pressed (HIP) shaped billets. Materion is working to
obtain SAE-AMS specifications for SupremEX 225XE in forged and extruded
forms, and for other grades of its SupremEX product line.
"This SAE-AMS specification is a major development for our family of
SupremEX aluminum metal matrix composites and, we believe, for the
aerospace industry," said W. Glenn Maxwell, President, Materion
Performance Metals group. There is already strong interest in this
material as no new metal matrix composites had SAE-AMS certification.
"Many of Materion's aerospace-grade products have earned SAE-AMS
specification, so we understand its value and potential," he continued.
"This allows design engineers to look at the material more intently.
Without the specification, an engineer is unlikely to recommend a new
material because they would have to self-qualify, which can take years.
With the specification, a procurement agent can purchase to a spec."
All SupremEX metal matrix composites offer improved performance in
aero-engine components and aircraft structures for both commercial and
military applications. They are 60 percent lighter than steel and 36
percent lighter than titanium, yet they offer high strength, stiffness
and fatigue properties that significantly increase a component's
capability and useful life.
While components made of SupremEX are as light as some carbon fiber
parts, they offer superior damage tolerance and improved wear
resistance. With a low coefficient of thermal expansion, components made
of these composites will not deform over the range of temperatures
experienced during flight. And because SupremEX composites are aluminum,
aircraft manufacturers know they will be able to use traditional metal
assembly techniques in production.
"The combination of properties achieved with SupremEX 225XE provides
potential for a wide range of applications in aerospace and defense,"
said Maxwell. "They include brakes and wheels, engine components,
aircraft structure, control systems, and electro-optical sensor
components on military aircraft."
In addition, he said, "Our SupremEX line has already made inroads in the
performance automotive market, where applications include pistons,
cylinder liners, connecting rods, brake calipers, and valve train and
chassis components. But SAE-AMS specification carries clout in this
industry, so we expect it will broaden interest in the product."
About SAE:
SAE International is a global association of more than 138,000 engineers
and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and
commercial-vehicle industries. Standards from SAE International are used
to advance mobility engineering throughout the world. The SAE Technical
Standards Development Program is among the organization's primary
provisions to the industries it serves. Today's SAE standards product
line includes almost 10,000 documents created through consensus
standards development by more than 240 SAE Technical Committees with
450+ subcommittees and task groups. These works are authorized, revised,
and maintained by the volunteer efforts of more than 9,000 engineers,
and other qualified professionals from around the world.
About Materion:
Materion Corporation is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. The
Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies highly
engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets. Products
include precious and non-precious metals, inorganic chemicals and
powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium alloys,
beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered clad and plated metal
systems.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151222005062/en/
Materion Corporation
Investor Contact:
Michael
C. Hasychak, 216-383-6823
mike.hasychak@materion.com
or
Media
Contact:
Karen Ducatman, 216-383-4090
karen.ducatman@materion.com
or
http://www.materion.com
Mayfield
Hts-g
Source: Materion Corporation
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