Ring band for a piston

An engine, comprising:

• a combustion chamber;
• a connecting rod;
• a piston comprised of a first material having a preestablished rate of thermal conductivity and a second material having a preestablished rate of thermal conductivity being different from the rate of thermal conductivity of the first material, the piston being attached to the connecting rod;
• and
• at least one ring groove being partially positioned in each of the first material and the second material.

A method of reinforcing a piston having at least one ring groove having a top face and a bottom face, the method comprising:

• providing a piston of a first material;
• providing a band of a second material having a preestablished rate of thermal conductivity less than the rate of thermal conductivity of the first material;
• bonding the band to the piston;
• forming one of the top face and the bottom face in the first material;
• and
• forming the other of the top face and the bottom face in the second material.

A piston, comprising:

• a first material;
• a second material;
• at least one ring groove, being partially positioned in each of the first material and the second material;
• and
• a piston ring positioned in the ring groove.

A method of operating a reinforced piston, comprising the steps of:

• providing a ring groove formed in the piston and having at least one face of the ring groove comprised of each of a first material and a second material;
• providing a piston ring partially contained in the ring groove;
• moving the piston inside a cylinder in a reciprocating manner;
• contacting the cylinder with the piston ring;
• transferring heat from the piston to the piston ring to the cylinder through action of the first material;
• and
• resisting wear of the ring groove from the piston ring through action of the second material.