For Release: March 25, 1996
Keith Henry
NASA Langley Research Center
(804) 864-6120/4
Release No. 96-021
NOTE TO EDITORS:
NASA Langley to Brief Companies on Composite Piston
Opportunities
Imagine what a maker of racing engines or snowmobiles or
outboard motors could do with a lightweight engine that thrives on
the demands of high-temperature and high-power output. Now add the
advantages of greater fuel economy and much lower hydrocarbon
emissions, and it doesn't take much to imagine the consumer appeal
of such an engine.
Consumers will have to wait for this engine, but manufacturers
do not. The technology to make this engine exists today, and NASA
Langley Research Center is offering U.S. companies the opportunity
to license it for a variety of markets.
A technical briefing will be held for interested companies
Wednesday, March 27, at NASA Langley to explain the advantages of
carbon-carbon composite material for high-performance pistons and
other applications. The carbon filament and epoxy material was
originally developed for high-temperature space and aeronautics
applications.
NASA Langley has tested prototype pistons in gasoline engines
and has successfully demonstrated the benefits of the new material
system. Benefits include a lower density than aluminum alloy and
lower reciprocating mass, a low coefficient of thermal expansion,
maintainance of strength and stiffness at operating temperatures up
to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and use of leaner fuel-air mixtures
for higher fuel economy.
News media interested in this story should call Keith Henry at
the number above for further information, interview and visual
opportunities.
text-only version of this release | 
