Method of fabricating an aluminum matrix composite and an aluminum matrix composite fabricated by the same
AssigneesAlcom, Senus Corp.
InventorsKon-Bae Lee, Jae-Pyoung Ahn, Hae Sung Kim, Hyunjoo Choi
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Abstract
The present invention is related to a method of fabricating an aluminum matrix composite by a simple process of heating a mixture of a ceramic reinforcing phase and aluminum in nitrogen containing atmosphere and an aluminum matrix composite fabricated by the same. The aluminum matrix composite may be fabricated by heating to temperatures even lower than the melting temperature of aluminum as well as to temperatures higher. The exothermic nitridation reaction contributes to the melting of the aluminum matrix and the aluminum nitride formed in-situ as a result may act as an additional reinforcing phase.
Claims26
A method for fabricating an aluminum matrix composite comprising:
- heating a uniformly mixed mixture of aluminum and a ceramic reinforcing phase in a nitrogen containing atmosphere, from room temperature to a temperature in the range of 590° C.-660° C. employing a constant heating rate, and;
- maintaining the temperature within said range for a duration of 60˜120 minutes such that the resulting composite comprises the ceramic reinforcing phase dispersed throughout the aluminum matrix;
- wherein the heating further comprises the steps of:
- an oxide film covering the aluminum surface reacting with the nitrogen to form a nitride;
- the aluminum melting due to heat caused by the nitriding reaction;
- the ceramic reinforcing phase providing a passage for a constant supply of nitrogen such that the molten aluminum fills surrounding pores and sinters, absent externally applied pressure.
A method for fabricating an aluminum matrix composite comprising:
- heating a uniform mixture of aluminum powder and a ceramic powder reinforcing phase in a nitrogen containing atmosphere, from room temperature to a temperature in the range of 590° C.˜660° C. employing a constant heating rate, and;
- maintaining the temperature within said range for a duration of 60˜120 minutes such that the resulting composite comprises the ceramic reinforcing phase dispersed throughout the aluminum matrix;
- wherein nitridation occurs in-situ at the aluminum powder surface, forming an aluminum nitride phase dispersed uniformly throughout the volume of the resulting composite;
- wherein the heating further comprises the steps of:
- an oxide film covering the aluminum powder surface reacting with the nitrogen to form a nitride;
- the aluminum melting due to heat caused by the nitriding reaction;
- the ceramic reinforcing phase providing a passage for a constant supply of nitrogen such that the molten aluminum fills surrounding pores and sinters, absent externally applied pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.