Woven carbon fiber reinforced steel matrix composite with unreinforced regions

Abstract

Composite materials include a steel matrix with reinforcing carbon fiber integrated into the matrix, and having unreinforced regions suitable for stamping or other deformation. The composite materials have substantially lower density than steel, and are expected to have appreciable strength within regions having the reinforcing carbon fiber, while having greater deformability in unreinforced regions. Methods for forming composite steel composites includes combining at least two laterally spaced apart reinforcing carbon fiber components, such as a carbon fiber weave, with steel nanoparticles and sintering the steel nanoparticles in order to form a steel matrix with reinforcing carbon fiber integrated therein, and unreinforced regions located in the lateral spaces between carbon fiber components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.