Fabrication of metal matrix composite mirror

摘要

Fabrication of a high precision mirror using a discontinuous metal matrix composite is described. A metal matrix composite (MMC) is obtained by using one of the three methods described herein or any other method. The MMC material so obtained is machined to form a mirror substrate which is then coated and the coating so obtained is converted into the mirror surface. The mirror so obtained has better characteristics over the conventional high precision beryllium mirrors used for this purpose and is fabricated out of a nontoxic material which is cheaper and more easily available than the beryllium metal.