Sep 20 2005
Adal Group has announced that it has filed patent applications for a metal matrix composite ("MMC") that will be referred to by the company as "Ticalium." Ticalium combines aluminum with titanium and carbon to produce a super-hard extrusion that is designed to increase the strength, hardness and wear resistance of aluminum.
Dr. Cem Selcuk, Adal Group's Project Manager for Ticalium said, "We believe that the possibilities for applications are immense."
"Just for comparison with another strong material, white cast iron has a tensile strength of approximately 250 MPa (Mega Pascals) and is also brittle, whereas Ticalium has a higher strength of about 330 MPa together with a greater stiffness while exhibiting greater lightness according to third party testing."
"Ticalium is highly suitable for applications requiring light weight and high wear-resistance (with good mechanical properties), including tyre studs, sliding contacts, etc. According to a university study, Ticalium has up to a 50% improvement in wear resistance over the base alloy, by adding only 10wt% TiC reinforcement."
Nicholas A. Shrager, Chairman and CEO of Adal Group Inc., said, "It's a very special moment for Adal, to be able to finally launch Ticalium into the marketplace. We and our partners have worked hard developing this product, and I'm really excited to see the uses it will be put to."
"This is an example of the kind of proprietary products we are developing to find innovative ways of improving people's lives with aluminum."
About Ticalium
Ticalium is a novel composite material. The precise content of reinforcement in the composite can be varied to suit the application. A typical addition level is in the range 5-15wt%. Ticalium can be cast, sprayed or extruded to produce complex profiles that produce material that can be engineered, anodized, welded, painted and finished to a high standard.
Possible applications:
- Brake discs & drums (automotive industry): We believe Ticalium can provide benefits such as high wear resistance, and is light weight for brake discs and drums. In addition, the high thermal conductivity of Ticalium provides better cooling than cast iron.
- Brake callipers: We believe Ticalium can provide improved stiffness to reduce the flexing of brake callipers.
- Automotive Pistons: We believe Ticalium's wear resistance is an important benefit for automotive pistons.
- Train Wheels: We believe that Ticalium train brakes can result in huge weight savings, allowing reduced energy consumption and quicker acceleration and braking, thereby improving journey time and increasing train speed per hour.
- Tyre Studs: We believe Ticalium can fulfill criteria for reduced weight.
- Snowmobile component (steering drum): We believe Ticalium can provide good wear resistance, stiffness and light weight for snowmobile components.
- Motorcycle brake discs: We believe Ticalium can provide weight savings and reduced gyroscopic effects during braking through corners for motorcycles.
- Bicycle Frames: We believe Ticalium extruded tubes with good mechanical properties and surface finish would be beneficial for bicycle frames.
- Other opportunities could include a wide range of products such as golf clubs.
http://www.adalgroup.com