Bloomfield, Connecticut-based bearing manufacturer Kaman has partnered Triton Systems, a research and development company in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to employ the latter's patented Fiber Reinforced Aluminium for its product line.
The metal composite material offers weight reductions of up two-thirds and has around 93.3°C (200°F) higher temperature resistance over conventional, hardened steel.
FRA's fretting performance is also better, with the compressive strength being comparable to carburised steel. Nevertheless, the material can be more easily machined, according to Kaman.
The company said that, while aluminium composites have long been in production, only Triton's engineering has led to the overall property improvement.
Asked whether the material will be more expensive than conventional steel, Robert Paterson, president of the manufacturer's Kamatics subsidiary, said that he was confident the company will achieve a "competitive" price.
- All the latest news, images and video from the 2011 Paris air show
Source: Flight Daily News
