MATERIALS | COMPOSITES
said to have higher strength,
greater stiffness, lower weight,
superior wear resistance, as well
as special thermal and electrical
properties. AMCs are also claimed
to offer multiple advantages over
polymer fibre reinforced materials,
such as carbon composites.
These include higher transverse
strength and stiffness, a higher
thermal operating range, better
wear resistance, superior damage
tolerance, and easier repairability.
The potential benefits of the
materials that Alvant is developing
mean they have possible uses
in a wide range of engineering
applications benefitting from
their unique, light, stiff and strong
attributes.
These applications cover
electrified transport, renewable
energy and healthcare but are
equally suitable for high-end
consumer products that need to
be light, strong and capable of
sustaining damage such as mobile
devices, biomechanical prosthetics,
sports equipment and personal
mobility products including
wheelchairs and folding bicycles.
Alvant believes that where safety
and reliability are essential, AMCs
could find use in applications in
high-pressure seals, aircraft landing
gear and seats. Where performance,
efficiency and precision are vital,
use cases include robotics, electric
motors and automotive suspensions.
And because AMCs are capable of
withstanding extreme temperatures,
they are suitable for components
in high-voltage battery systems,
unmanned aerial vehicles that fly at
high altitudes and powertrains.
The increased pressure
faced by the industry to identify
ways to improve efficiency and
performance, whilst simplifying
manufacturing and overall
cost, has also fuelled Alvant’s
recent involvement in a research
programme looking at electric
motor applications, called ‘making it
lighter for less’, in collaboration with
GE Aviation, YASA Motors and the
National Composites Centre.
Alvant believes that as
electrification increases, vehicle
manufacturers are seeking to
optimise motor efficiency maps;
for example, by improving the
Winglets
Leading Edge
Pylon
Structure
Fan Blades
& Engine
Radome
Landing Gear
Flap Track Fittings
Trailing Edge Rib &
Panel Support
Structure
Seat Structure
SBuacpkport Structure
FSrpoanrt
Wing Structure
Rib
Fittings
Empennage
Ribs & panel
support structure
Tail Cone
RSepaarr
efficiency as a function
of torque and speed that
ultimately determines
the energy consumption
for vehicles.
“Using AMCs, we have
been able to attack the weight
yet retain the stiffness of the electric
rotor, to minimise parasitic mass,
improving the power-to-inertia
ratio and therefore efficiency and
responsiveness,” says Thompson.
“In addition, we can also offer better
thermal resistance, up to 300°C,
making AMCs a more suitable
material than polymer composites
for applications such as motors,
batteries, energy recovery systems,
fans and flywheels.”
Alvant is now working on a
customisable metal matrix composite
(MMC) multi-phase material,
offering a viable alternative to
titanium and carbon sandwich
composites.
Traditional sandwich
materials are typically
assembled from
carbon composite or
unreinforced metallic
panes with a variety
of honeycomb cores. The
metallic pane sandwiches are
typically flat, 2D panels, while
carbon composite varieties can take
3D forms. Touted as a sustainable
and capable alternative, Alvant’s
MMC is produced with a ‘one-shot’
manufacturing process and can
significantly increase a component’s
strength and stiffness to weight ratios.
According to Thompson, product
manufacturers are becoming more
aware of how AMCs can sometimes
be a better alternative than other
composite materials or unreinforced
metals, and the calibre of partners
across aerospace and automotive
sectors signing-up to new projects
with Alvant is proof of this.
“A key objective of any
project we undertake is to test
and demonstrate as many
technology advances
as possible,” adds
Thompson. “Alvant’s
AMCs are a sustainable
solution that enhance
product capabilities.”
“Aerospace and
automotive industries face
the challenge of finding
suitable materials that will
Above: Where safety
and reliability are
essential, AMCs could
find use in applications
in high-pressure seals,
aircraft landing gear
and seats.
Below: Alvant’s metal
matrix composite is
produced with a ‘oneshot’
manufacturing
process and can
significantly increase a
component’s strength
and stiffness to weight
ratios.
Using AMCs,
we have been able to
attack the weight yet
retain the stiffness of the
electric rotor, to minimise
parasitic mass, improving
the power-to-inertia
ratio and therefore
reduce weight whilst maintaining
reliability and lowering whole-life
ownership costs. AMCs offer an
exciting potential to industries that
need a step change in performance
to meet ever stringent market
and legislative demands. We are
in the growth stages of an age of
new materials, now is the time
for the industry to stop relying
on traditional technologies and
embrace change.” !
efficiency and
responsiveness
40 WWW.EUREKAMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MARCH 2020
/WWW.EUREKAMAGAZINE.CO.UK