Advanced materials research equipment is changing the way manufacturers approach metal matrix composite (MMC) development.
Recent tests using InssTek's MX-Lab technology have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in manufacturing aluminum-ceramic composites, achieving wear resistance properties that surpass those of standard aluminum alloys.
Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities
The study in question highlights MX-Lab's advanced Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technique for processing various aluminum-based materials.
The research equipment showcased remarkable versatility, successfully producing pure aluminum, aluminum alloy series 4000 and 6000, and aluminum-ceramic metal matrix composites. This demonstrates its capability to handle a diverse range of material combinations within a single manufacturing platform.
Research Methodology Innovation
MX-Lab's precision manufacturing capabilities enabled researchers to undertake comprehensive wear testing using a uniform ball-on-disc technique.
The testing conditions were precisely controlled at 5 kgf load, 30-minute duration, and 50 rpm rotation speed, confirming the equipment's capability to produce consistent, high-quality test specimens from a variety of material combinations.
Image Credit: InssTek, Inc.
Superior Performance Results
The research equipment's ability to manufacture metal matrix composites produced particularly excellent results. Wear tests demonstrated that MMC specimens created with the MX-Lab method had significantly higher wear resistance when compared to traditional materials.
The aluminum-ceramic composite exhibited a remarkably low wear amount of 0.0106 g, surpassing pure aluminum (0.0408 g) and standard aluminum alloys (0.0394 g for 4000 series, 0.1092 g for 6000 series).
Image Credit: InssTek, Inc.
Notably, the friction coefficient was comparable to that of typical aluminum alloys, showing no compromise in operational properties.
Manufacturing Technology Advancement
This study highlights MX-Lab's important contribution to enhancing production capabilities in the field of metal matrix composites.
The system's ability to precisely control material deposition allows for the development of complicated material combinations while ensuring consistent material characteristics throughout the manufactured components.
Research Equipment Innovation
The successful production of high-performance aluminum-ceramic composites underscores MX-Lab's advanced processing capabilities.
Its ability to work with both metallic and ceramic materials while ensuring precise control over the manufacturing process marks a significant advancement in materials research technology.
Future Research Applications
The demonstrated capabilities of MX-Lab in processing advanced material combinations point to new opportunities for materials research and development.
This technology platform gives researchers additional tools for investigating novel material combinations and manufacturing techniques, notably in the field of wear-resistant components.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by InssTek, Inc.
For more information on this source, please visit InssTek, Inc.