About Us

 

FRA™ is a high strength aluminum alloy randomly reinforced with chopped ceramic (alumina-silicate) fibers.  The ideal applications for FRA™ are those that capitalize on its excellent wear resistance, light weight and elevated temperature strength properties.  Tests have proven that compared to steel and cast iron, this material has equivalent or better resistance to various forms of wear (abrasive, fretting, metal-to-metal sliding).  However, FRA™ is 1/3 the density of ferrous alloys. 

Furthermore, compared to conventional high strength aluminum alloys, FRA™ has > 3X elevated temperature strength.  
This unique combination of light weight, superior wear resistance and high temperature strength points to a number of promising applications including but not limited to:

 

• Light weight replacement for steel gear box bearing liners (rotorcraft, ground vehicles)
• Replace aluminum in high temperature heat exchangers (e.g., charge air coolers)
• “Hardpoint” inserts in aluminum pump and actuator housing castings
• Lightweight replacement for ferrous and copper – based bushings & wear inserts
• Replacement of aluminum and ferrous internal combustion engine components to extend performance and/or reduce weight