8. High Performance Metal Matrix Composites
(a) Coated layer of molten SiC on an Al-Li matrix powder
(b) Fine dispersions of SiC in an Al-Li/SiC powder
SiC particles (white dots) dispersed into an Al-Li matrix and coated using plasma spraying.
Composite materials may be tailored for special environments and operating conditions. Metal matrix composites are usually produced by one of two methods: casting or powder metallurgy. The powder metallurgy method has attracted considerable attention recently because of progress in the production and processing of powders.
It is anticipated that there will be a large increase in demand for materials with high specific modulus and strength, and so Al-Li matrices with Ni fibers and SiC and TiN particles as reinforcing components are currently being studied. The study also includes investigations of superplastic forming of the composites. The photographs show an Al-Li/SiC composite powder prepared by a plasma spraying technique which gives a homogeneous coating with uniform dispersion.
This work is part of a joint research project with Nanyang Technical University in Singapore.
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