The company’s new Hybrid Composite Cylinder Head would be made up mostly of a polymer composite instead of the traditional aluminum or iron, for better efficiency, lightweighting, and to reduce corrosion, explains The Truth About Cars.

The patent outlines how the composite, which may be fiber-reinforced, will surround an internal cast-iron skeleton. Previous lightweighting cylinder head patents specified the use of a ceramic composite, but that material’s shortcomings included the fact it couldn’t be formed around a metal inner structure, and that it couldn’t withstand high heat and pressure very well.

Ford’s composite heads would instead be made from a resin, silicone, or some combination thereof, which would also reduce the production cost of the components. Slightly improved fuel economy might also be a byproduct, since the part would weigh less.

Ford two years ago showed off a prototype 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that extensively used injection-molded carbon-fibre parts – cylinder head included – and noted weight was reduced by 16 percent versus a stock motor.

Source:  Driving  ||  February 02, 2018   |||