Carbon fiber engine blocks
How have they solved the heat degradation problems? My understanding is that CFRP starts to fall apart at about 100C.
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Carbon fibre (fiber) has a long way to go before it can stake the claims to simplicity, machinability, and relatively low cost that aluminium and (thin wall) cast iron have.
CF is expensive, cannot be machined, loses structural integrity if any of the fibres (fibers) are interfered with, and doesn't have the high heat resistance of metals.
What happens if you blow a cooling system hose with a CF block (a common occurrence), and the engine overheats? It will probably self-destruct with the unanticipated high heat levels.
I know CF is a popular product in the aviation industry, but engine blocks are an entirely different kettle of fish to airframe components and aircraft panels.
Why Is Carbon Fiber So Expensive?
CF is expensive, cannot be machined, loses structural integrity if any of the fibres (fibers) are interfered with, and doesn't have the high heat resistance of metals.
What happens if you blow a cooling system hose with a CF block (a common occurrence), and the engine overheats? It will probably self-destruct with the unanticipated high heat levels.
I know CF is a popular product in the aviation industry, but engine blocks are an entirely different kettle of fish to airframe components and aircraft panels.
Why Is Carbon Fiber So Expensive?
Am I correct to assume the design uses strategically placed metallic (possibly exotic ceramic) liners for piston chamber and metallic inserts for bearings and assembly
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After Mr Thielert and his million euro Lockheed purchase invoices (which Lockheed didn't get copies of), which together with Diamond's general conduct in this often fraught business have set useful/practical GA innovation back a decade or more, all we need is plastic engines 
OK on a twin I suppose, provided you stay very current
OK on a twin I suppose, provided you stay very current
Last edited by peterh337; 16th May 2012 at 20:46.
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I was fixing VC10's from anout 1978 onwards and never saw a carbon brake, I think that the first carbon brake turned up in 1989 (?) on the first
Airbus A320's.
The memory may be subject to correction !
Airbus A320's.
The memory may be subject to correction !
Most of the test flights of the Concorde programme were conducted using the conventional steel brakes, but during this time Dunlop were experimenting with solid carbon fibre discs. The first production units were cleared for trials in 1972 and fitted to a BOAC VC10. In 1974 they became standard fit on Concorde, and the industry followed.
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To be fair on them, the engines don't seem to be intended for aircraft.
The temperature problems and and resistance to fuel/oil were the first things I worried about... Presumably the designers have also considered them.
The temperature problems and and resistance to fuel/oil were the first things I worried about... Presumably the designers have also considered them.
The temperature problems and and resistance to fuel/oil were the first things I worried about... Presumably the designers have also considered them
Some Husqvarna chainsaws have plastic crankcases, and tens of thousands of Testors 0.049 model aircraft engines did too.
