Material investigations of composites and their selected applications in motor transport

The paper presents advances in the range of brake discs and engine pistons production using metal matrix composites and identifies their advantages in comparison to materials traditionally applied. The wear characteristics in the case of brake discs and thermal shock resistance in the case of pistons were determined. The wear was assessed by measurements of friction coefficients in different temperatures. The thermal shock resistance was described as the crack length formed during the tests. The image analysis was used in the quantitative microstructure assessments for determination of synthetic geometrical parameter correlated with composites properties. The two synthetic geometrical variables have been proposed in the microstructure description of a new generation brake discs and pistons. The selected relationships between functional properties and composite microstructure are presented. It was shown that a life of brake discs made from A359 aluminum alloy reinforced by SiC precipitates is much longer in comparison to traditional, made from cast iron. It was ascertained also that the best thermal shock resistance was obtained in the case of AK12 composite with Al2O3 short fibers in cast heat treated. The results may be treated as the base for the recommendations of tested metal matrix composites for applicability in selected vehicle parts and subsets producing.