Ceramics In Engine Components

Several ceramic parts have already proven their suitability for serial application in automobile engines in very impressive ways, especially in Japan, the USA and in Germany. However, there is still a lack of economical quality assurance concepts. Recently, a new generation of ceramic components, for the use in energy, transportation and environment systems, has been developed. The efforts are more and more system oriented in this field. The only possibility to manage this complex issue in the future will be interdisciplinary cooperation. Chemists, physicists, material scientists, process engineers, mechanical engineers and engine manufacturers will have to cooperate in a more intensive way than ever before. The R&D activities are still concentrating on gas turbines and reciprocating engines, but also on brakes, bearings, fuel cells, batteries, filters, membranes, sensors and actuators as well as on shaping and cutting tools for low expense machining of ceramic components. This book summarizes the scientific papers of the 7th International Symposium "Ceramic Materials and Components for Engines". Some of the most fascinating new applications of ceramic meterials in energy, transportation and environment systems are presented. The proceedings shall lead to new ideas for interdisciplinary activities in the future.

The 5th of a prestigious series of conferences, these proceedings are devoted to the latest achievements in ceramic materials and components for engines. Their purpose is to advance structural ceramics and ceramic engine technology on a worldwide scale and provide a state-of-the-art survey of this increasingly important field. The papers presented cover many aspects from basic research and development to production, properties and applications. These proceedings will be of interest to ceramists and mechanical engineers concerned with the potential use of ceramic components in engines.

The Sixth Army Materials Technology Conference, IICeramics for High Performance Applications-II I-Reliabilityll , was co-sponsored by the Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center and the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Transportation Programs . The program highlighted all issues relevant to the reliability of ceramics in advanced systems. The conference emphasized programmatic reviews of the major efforts on ceramic gas turbine technology, on an international basis. The conference showed how ceramic design, materials development, materials processing, NDE, and component systems testing are being integrated and iterated in specific engine development programs . Further , the conference promoted inter change among the various technical disciplines working in the advanced turbine and heat engine areas. This volume will join its earlier companions, Ceramics for High Performance A lications (1974), and Ceramics for High Performance Applications-II 1 7 ,in chronicling the rapid progress being made in the applicaton of ceramics to the very demanding service environ ment of gas turbine and piston engines. At the last meeting of this series at Newport, R t, in March 1977, successful high temperature tests of ceramic components in test rigs were described.

This volume represents the proceedings of the fourth in this series of prestigious conferences devoted to the latest developments in ceramic engine components. Its aim is to bring together both research and engineering knowledge and to provide a state-of-the-art survey of this increasingly important field.

Significant accomplishments in fabricating ceramic components for advanced heat engine programs have provided evidence that the operation of ceramic parts in high-temperature engine environments is feasible. However, these programs have also demonstrated that additional research is needed in materials and processing development, design methodology, and database and life prediction before industry will have a sufficient technology base from which to produce reliable cost-effective ceramic engine components commercially. An assessment of needs was completed, and a five year project plan was developed with extensive input from private industry. The project approach includes determining the mechanisms controlling reliability, improving processes for fabricating existing ceramics, developing new materials with increased reliability, and testing these materials in simulated engine environments to confirm reliability. Although this is a generic materials project, the focus is on the structural ceramics for advanced gas turbine and diesel engines, ceramic bearings and attachments, and ceramic coatings for thermal barrier and wear applications in these engines. To facilitate the rapid transfer of this technology to US industry, the major portion of the work is being done in the ceramic industry, with technological support from government laboratories, other industrial laboratories, and universities. This project is managed by ORNL for the Office of Transportation Technologies, Office of Transportation Materials, and is closely coordinated with complementary ceramics tasks funded by other DOE offices, NASA, DOD, and industry.