Titanium Engines
Discussion
Julian64 said:
I thought the jabs were close to a plastic engine with ceramic hot bits.
Would blow all the titanium talk into a cocked hat for weightsaving if they ever pulled it off.
I heard rumors of prototype all-ceramic rotary engines when I used to work down the road from Mazda'a US coporate HQ and knew a few guys who worked there.
The idea was that not only could it do away with all the water-cooling gubbins and not only was it lighter than its metal counterparts, it was also able to burn a variety of fuel (like alcohol) without modification due to its better heat-dispersion.
I never actually saw one but it sounded cool...
If i remember correctly Ferrari incorporated Beryllium into there F1 engine design a few years ago, but has was banned fairly quickly due to its toxic properties after complaints from McClaren over it use.
I also remember seeing adverts for a plastic engine in the back of Autosport magazine about 10 years ago,but i cant recall the manufacturers name.
I also remember seeing adverts for a plastic engine in the back of Autosport magazine about 10 years ago,but i cant recall the manufacturers name.
In my uni days ('97) we had a talk given to us by Jock Clear who was, at the time, Villeneuves race engineer at Williams then subsequently BAR.
Someone asked the question as to why Williams had had such an "unreliable" season previously (despite winning the title) and had it something to do with running hotter than usual engine temps with regard to a move to ceramic engines/components. Without being able to say anything officially, lets say a nod and a wink were the response to the question. Sadly, little appears to have reliably transpired from it.
Someone asked the question as to why Williams had had such an "unreliable" season previously (despite winning the title) and had it something to do with running hotter than usual engine temps with regard to a move to ceramic engines/components. Without being able to say anything officially, lets say a nod and a wink were the response to the question. Sadly, little appears to have reliably transpired from it.
kneegrow said:
Talking of stupid things. I am toying with casting my own 8 port head for my mini!
It can't be that tricky. All I have to do is very accurately make a rough cast and then machine it.
Anyone know the "Safe" thickness of aluminium for waterways and combustion chambers.
stu
3mm for waterways/lubrication and 6mm for combustion chambers (more if you want to slap a turbo/supercharger on it later
) Good luck.
kneegrow said:
Talking of stupid things. I am toying with casting my own 8 port head for my mini!
It can't be that tricky. All I have to do is very accurately make a rough cast and then machine it.
Anyone know the "Safe" thickness of aluminium for waterways and combustion chambers.
stu
I remember discussing in detail with a friend why he hadn't a hope of casting his own 16v head for his triumph spitfire. He was a nutter, and always had absurdly big ideas.
Only the daft sod went and did it, and made it run too. Sounded as odd as they come, looked odder still but went substantially better than the stock item. Made me look a right fool, too - kind of proved me wrong in a big way.
I was impressed. Shame I'm not still in touch with him.
Oli
warmfuzzies said:
Berylium is now banned in F1, they used to use it in brake calipers as well, but due to its toxic nature the overlords in F1 had all materials like this banned about 1-2 years ago.
kevin
I never knew beryllium was toxic!
What sort of toxin is it? I always thought of it as a relatively harmless metal...Fatboy said:
Berylium is now banned in F1, they used to use it in brake calipers as well, but due to its toxic nature the overlords in F1 had all materials like this banned about 1-2 years ago.
kevin
I never knew beryllium was toxic!
IIRC, its dangers are similar to those posed by asbestos. Inhalation of small particles of the material can cause serious and even permanent damage to the lungs. The condition is known as berylliosis or Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD).
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff