In order to broaden the range of application of light weight aluminum alloys, it is necessary to enhance the mechanical properties of the alloys and combine them with other materials, such as cast iron. In this study, the effects of adding small amounts of Cu and Zr to the Al-Si-Mg based alloy on tensile properties and corrosion characteristics were investigated, and the effect of the addition on the interfacial compounds layer with the cast iron was also analyzed. Although the tensile strength of the Al-Si-Mg alloy was not significantly affected by the additions of Cu and Zr, the corrosion resistance in 3.5 %NaCl solution was found to be somewhat lowered in this research. The influence of Cu and Zr addition on the type and thickness of the interfacial compounds layer formed during compound casting with cast iron was not significant, and the main interfacial compounds were identified to be Al5FeSi and Al8Fe2Si phases, as in the case of the Al-Si-Mg alloys.

Various kinds of friction materials were manufactured by adding 10%, 20%, and 30% of reduced iron, respectively, which has been obtained during the reduction process of blast furnace sludge extracted from the blast furnace, and its iron oxide, instead of existing barium sulfate(BaSO4) among the components of automobile brake friction materials. Fundamental physical property test and friction performance test, etc., using a brake dynamometer were carried out against these friction materials. Furthermore, when the expensive filling material, BaSO4 was substituted by reduced iron and added to the friction material, the added content of reduced iron for an excellent friction characteristic considering the heat emission temperature, wear, etc., was 10%. In the fundamental physical property test, as the added content of blast furnace sludge or reduced iron increased, and as the content increased, the shear strength and bonding strength of friction materials decreased, but both of them indicated sufficient strengths to be applied to a friction material. Even in the frictional performance test using a brake dynamometer, as the added content of blast furnace sludge or reduced iron increased, the friction coefficient reacted insensibly to brake deceleration, and its stability was improved.