Background

Microtex is Fibretech’s range of metal fibres, filaments and mats for applications in materials reinforcement, sound absorption, filtration, catalytic media and friction products.
Advantages of Mictotex Metal Fibre Products

· Allows uniquely tailor-made to meet your needs

· Greater choice and increased performance from alloys now available in stainless steels, nickel alloys, copper alloys, aluminium alloys and iron-chrome-aluminium alloys.

· As much or as little as you need - batch production from a few kilos to a thousand tonnes.

· Performance advantages over old technology ‘wire wool’ type of materials.

· Wider range of finished forms - now available in semi-continuous mats or fibres in a variety of lengths down to 1mm.

· Enhanced corrosion resistance

· Beneficial physical properties only available from the unique direct cast rapid solidification process.
Manufacture of Microtex Materials

Fibretech Microtex is an all-new product manufactured by a process unique to Fibre Technology Ltd - the 4th generation direct cast process patented as “melt overflow”. Rapid solidification of the metal alloys, with cooling rates of over 10K/second, produces refined microstructures and minimal segregation with improvements over traditional forms in mechanical, chemical, electrical and magnetic properties.
Advantages of Direct Casting Techniques

Direct casting is a highly efficient process and introduces significant cost advantages over ‘wire’ type products manufactured by traditional methods.
Microtex Materials in Aggressive Environments

Fibretech Microtex products in nickel based alloys can provide solutions to many problem areas not previously considered possible. As filtration media, by varying the diameter and packing density of fibres and filaments, a wide range of new characteristics can be achieved. Bonding at intersections produces rigid structures. Fibretech stainless steel fibre filter materials offer high temperature capability and resistance to highly corrosive environments.
Microtex in Metal Matrix Composites

Fibretech Microtex in fine metal fibre form dispersed within a lower melting point alloy matrix creates a composite with significantly enhanced tensile strength and toughness properties. An example would be nickel alloy fibres dispersed in aluminium. Fibre preforms can be placed in mould cavities and, as the component is cast, molten metal infiltrates the fibres resulting in localised areas of reinforcement. Typical applications would be the crown and gudgeon pin locations in pistons saving both weight and cost.
Iron - Chrome - Aluminium Alloys

Fibretech’s direct cast technique produces this with high aluminium content in filament, fibre, ribbon and strip formats, all of which have excellent high temperature oxidation resistance compared with an alloy of equivalent chromium content. The alumina surface provides the necessary compatibility for catalysation,
Process Flexibility Leads to Tailorable Compositions and Forms

Fibre Technology’s unique process introduces the facility for customers to create products developed specifically to meet their precise needs. This flexibility combined with the wide choice of form is providing breakthroughs for both existing and new applications. For example, in the automotive industry there has been a rapid take-up of Fibretech Microtex products in silencer fillings and friction materials. In other industries it can be used in seal and gasket composites for reinforcement in plastic, ceramic and metal matrix products.
Microtex in Automotive Applications

Microtex is now providing solutions in automotive applications, where high temperatures or corrosion can cause problems for conventional materials. Acoustic packings for exhaust systems now face far higher gas temperatures and there is demand for longer and longer design lives. Traditional sound absorbing materials such as glass fibre and basalt fibre are unable to stand the strain and, today, even 434 grade stainless steel wire wool is at the limit of its oxidation resistance. Fibretech Microtex 446 grade mat out performs these materials while providing a cost effective solution.

In brake pads traditional chopped mild steel wire wool reinforcement can, in some circumstances, corrode and cause catastrophic situations. Stainless steel fibres do provide a solution but, until Microtex appeared on the market, these have been considered to be prohibitively expensive. The cocktail of metals used in friction applications includes brass and copper. In the past manufacturers have had to compromise and use either powder or chopped swarf. Now Microtex offers these materials in the ideal fibre shape providing an important technological and cost saving breakthrough.