MILWAUKEE — Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are looking at self-lubricating materials as a way to help engines run more efficiently.
This research could result in engines that are better for the environment.
Kaustubh Rane is pursuing his PhD in material science and engineering.
The goal of Rane and his colleagues is to create a new material by joining different metals together at the UWM Foundry.
He said for this research, he is mixing aluminum with cerium.
“Cerium is something that deals with high temperature properties and we are adding things like nickel graphite and silicon carbide to give it even better properties at elevated temperatures,” said Rane.
Rane said he is trying to create an aluminum alloy that is not only self lubricating but can also withstand higher temperatures.
He said this means less friction, which could help vehicles run without oil and get more out of their engines.
“You want an engine that is efficient and one of the easiest ways to make an engine efficient is make it run at a higher temperature because the harder it runs, the better your fuel is going to converse, the more energy you are going to get out of their fuel,” said Rane.
Rane said this research can also be applied to other types of engines.
“Everything from a generator, lawn mower engine and anything you can think of where any kind of friction at high temperatures, aluminum is there to help us and aluminum-cerium is there to make it better,” said Rane.
David Weiss is the CEO of Visions Materials LLC. He said he partnered with the university in an effort to convince other companies to mass produce the metal alloys made in the university foundry.
“Then ideally we get a program with the customer or maybe the state or federal government to more fully develop that idea because when customers say they want something, they really need a lot of information about it,” he said.
Pradeep Rohatgi is the director of the UWM Centers for Composite and Advanced Materials Manufacturing. He said continuing to innovate in foundry technology is important for Wisconsin.
“They can be manufactured in Wisconsin so that they create jobs here and then these advanced materials can be used in the components that are made in Wisconsin like the motorcycles, the small engines,” said Rohatgi.
For Rane, it’s about finding practical solutions to make engines and your life run a little smoother.
“If these engines or if these materials in general are able to help that, to make things better for everyone at lower costs, then it’s going to be a great success of the research,” said Rane.
He said he hopes to continue this research because he believes there are limitless opportunities in the field of material science.