Composite Material for Combustion Chamber

[rwelk]

I am looking to develop a new grate for a combustion chamber in a cost cutting measure. The grates themselves can get up to 900 degrees C. We have been using SS, but they are really expensive, not hard enough, oxidize easily, and cause us to have to shutdown the whole system to replace.

I think a ceramic might have many superior properties, but I am worried it would be too brittle to handle the forces. Is it possible to make a composite material that is composed mostly of a ceramic, and possibly add something to increase it's it's durability. I have thought about mixing in something like needles, or possibly even nails to increase it's strength.

Does anyone know if this idea might work?

Cheers

 

[BillPSU]

Intermetallics such are iron aluminide or nickle aluminide and their alloys would be candidates for this application. They actually gain strength when heated from ambient. The have good oxidation resistance. The big drawback is they are brittle at ambient temperature.

 

[Compositepro]

Have you considered an enamel coated steel or cast iron? It been used for that sort of application for many years.