The major advantages
The major advantages of RSP materials compared with conventional aluminum alloys are:
Higher strength
Some RSP alloys can measure up to titanium in strength and offer a very interesting alternative to titanium which is heavier, more expensive and harder to work on. The RSA-708 alloy is used especially for components in the sport and racing industry.
Higher stiffness
RSP aluminium has a very high relative stiffness. Its stiffness is for example greater than that of steel and because of this it can be employed in many industrial applications, often in situations where a higher temperature strength is required.
As such, the material is extremely suitable for turbine and engine parts because of its remarkable resistance against high temperatures.
Lower expansion coefficient
The expansion coefficient can be changed by adapting the composition of the alloy. Consequently the RSP material is suitable for the components and housings of sensitive measuring equipment (measuring instruments and electronic devices), employed in fluctuating temperature conditions. Also with regard to the material for use in pistons, a lower expansion coefficient is important; narrower margins lead to lower environmental pollution.
Higher hardness
Higher hardness results in less wear and tear of components e.g. for hydraulic applications and pistons for racing cars and diesel engines.
Higher ductility
The RSP materials produced by RSP Technology have, due to their unique microstructure, better material and machining properties in comparison with other aluminum alloys.
Higher temperature strength
RSP alloys possess higher strength in applications involving increased temperatures. Therefore these alloys can be used for pistons, turbo components and components in systems that are subjected to temperature stress. The finely distributed silicon provides extra dispersion hardening.
Higher wear resistance
Because of the high wear resistance of RSP alloys, surface treatments such as hard anodizing may be dispensed with under certain conditions.
Lower weight
The application of special alloys increases the strength of the material, which enables production of thinner-walled (and therefore lighter) components. There are also RSP alloys with lower specific gravity, which makes it possible to produce a component which is lighter in weight, yet without a change in design.
Finer microstructure
RSP alloys have an extremely low surface roughness of only a few nanometres. The very smooth surfaces make it possible to apply RSP aluminium in mirrors and as material in moulds for synthetic precision components (lenses).
Production of special aluminum alloys
An increase of the solid solubility of the alloying elements leads to extra strength through precipitation treatments and/or solution hardening and offers possibilities for the production of alloys which cannot be produced in a conventional manner, such as AlSi40 and AlSi50.
