Composite material using reinforcing fibres in metal matrix - esp. where aluminium powder is compacted into strip contg. oriented fibres

摘要

The metal matrix is made continuously by powder metallurgical methods while the fibres are embedded in the matrix so all the fibres are aligned parallel with each other. Continuous fibres, short fibres, or whiskers, are pref. mixed with metal powder and fed through the gap between a pair of rolls to make green compacted strip. Several layers of the same or different compsn. may be compacted as strip. The matrix is pref. Al or its alloys, whereas the fibres or a fibre mat is C, SiC, B, Be, W, Cr, Ni, Cu, Nb, Mo, Ag and/or BN fibres with dia. 10-100, esp. 20-50 mum; and short fibres pref. have a length:dia. ratio of 10-50:1. The green strip is pref. heated in inert gas to increase the bond between the matrix and the fibres. An inexpensive mass prodn. method for mfg. strip initially used only in the aerospace industries, but with many other applications.