CAST SIC/A TECHNOLOGY APPLICABLE TO ROTARY ENGINES

SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN STIFFNESS, WEAR AND FATIGUE RESISTANCE WERE OBSERVED IN CAST SIC/AL-A201-T6 RELATIVE TO THE BASE ALLOY. HIGH TEMPERATURE STRENGTH IMPROVEMENTS WERENOT OBTAINED WITH THE ADDITION OF SIC, HOWEVER, OTHER SOURCES INDICATE STRENGTH IMPROVEMENTS ARE OBTAINABLE THROUGH THE USE OF HIGHER ASPECT RATIO (WHISKER) REINFORCEMENTS OR WITH WORK HARDENING TECHNIQUES. THE THERMAL EXPANSION (CTE) OF CAST SIC/AL WAS SIGNIFICANTLYLOWER THAN THE BASE ALLOY AND TEST RESULTS OF 10 AND 20 V% SIC/AL INDICATE THE CTE CAN BE CONTROLLED TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WITH LOADING FRACTION. THE ADDITION OF SIC REINFORCEMENTS APPARENTLY DID NOT CHANGE THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF THE BASE ALLOY.