The most prestigious materials research center in the former Soviet Union plans to market two unique new compounds that could read to more fuel efficient cars trucks, and airplanes. The Institute for Problems of Materials Science (IMPS), a 3,500 searcher mega laboratory in Kiev. Ukraine, has developed a new type of ceramic composite that could prove useful in diesel engines.
Engine makers have long been fascinated by ceramics because they can withstand higher temperatures than metal; at hotter temperatures, fuel bums more efficiently. The hitch: ceramics are brittle, making them less than ideal for high stress environments like engines.
But the laboratory says it has formulated a silicon titanium composite that retains its strength at the temperatures produced by a diesel engine, and, in fact, up to 900 degree C-well above temperatures metal can withstand. ‘Although officials from Emtech the Toronto based company marketing the material, are keeping the exact composition of the ceramic secret. They say the material is currently being tested by a major manufacturer of diesel engines.
The Ukrainian institute also operates the only scandium mine in the world. Using the supply of this extremely rare metal. The institute has created and patented several unique aluminum alloys that it claims are stiffer than all existing alloys of aluminum.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 2, 1994
