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US 12,654,247 B2Granted
Systems and methods for joining metal matrix composite materials
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsCarl Roy McIver, John Ralph Hull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes disposing a joining alloy between a first metal matrix composite substrate and a second metal matrix composite substrate to provide an assembly, and heating the assembly to a melting temperature of the joining alloy for a predetermined period of time. The melting temperature of the joining alloy is less than a melting temperature of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- disposing a joining alloy between a first metal matrix composite substrate and a second metal matrix composite substrate to provide an assembly, wherein each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate comprises a metal matrix and composite fibers, wherein the metal matrix comprises aluminum, and the composite fibers comprise aluminum oxide, wherein a thickness of each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate is 0.01 inches, wherein the joining alloy is formed of aluminum 4047 having a uniform thickness, wherein the joining alloy is distinct from the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate, and wherein the joining alloy is not initially secured to any portion of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate;
- heating the assembly to a melting temperature of the joining alloy for a predetermined period of time, wherein the melting temperature of the joining alloy is less than a melting temperature of one or more metals of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate;
- and
- securing, by said heating, the joining alloy to the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate to form a joint between the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate, and wherein said securing comprises fusing the joining alloy to a metal matrix of each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate as the joining alloy melts.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- treating a first metal matrix composite substrate, a second metal matrix composite substrate, and a joining alloy, wherein each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate comprises a metal matrix and composite fibers, wherein the metal matrix comprises aluminum, and the composite fibers comprise aluminum oxide, wherein a thickness of each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate is 0.01 inches, wherein the joining alloy is formed of aluminum 4047 having a uniform thickness, wherein each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate comprises a metal matrix and composite fibers, wherein the joining alloy is distinct from the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate, and wherein the joining alloy is not initially secured to any portion of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate;
- after said treating, disposing the joining alloy between the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate to provide an assembly;
- heating the assembly to a melting temperature of the joining alloy for a predetermined period of time, wherein the melting temperature of the joining alloy is less than a melting temperature of one or more metals of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate;
- compressing the assembly during the heating;
- and
- securing, by said heating and said compressing, the joining alloy to the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate to form a joint between the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate, and wherein said securing comprises fusing the joining alloy to a metal matrix of each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate as the joining alloy melts.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- acid treating a first metal matrix composite substrate, a second metal matrix composite substrate, and a joining alloy, wherein the joining alloy is distinct from the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate, wherein the joining alloy is not initially secured to any portion of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate, wherein each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate comprises a metal matrix and composite fibers, wherein the metal matrix is formed of aluminum, and the composite fibers are formed of aluminum oxide, wherein a thickness of each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate is 0.01 inches, wherein the joining alloy is formed of aluminum 4047 having a uniform thickness;
- after said acid treating, disposing the joining alloy between the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate to provide an assembly;
- disposing a first support member between the first metal matrix composite substrate and a first heating element;
- disposing a second support member between the second metal matrix composite substrate and a second heating element, wherein the first support member and the second support member are formed of stainless steel;
- heating, by the first heating element and the second heating element, the assembly to a melting temperature of the joining alloy for a predetermined period of time, wherein the melting temperature of the joining alloy is less than a melting temperature of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate;
- compressing the assembly during the heating;
- and
- securing, by said heating and said compressing, the joining alloy to the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate to form a joint between the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate, and wherein said securing comprises fusing the joining alloy to a metal matrix of each of the first metal matrix composite substrate and the second metal matrix composite substrate as the joining alloy melts.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.