Friction stir welding of metal matrix composites

Abstract

A method of making a fiber-reinforced component includes: providing a first composite member having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; providing a second composite member having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; and joining the first member to the second member by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component includes: first and second members each having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein. The first member is bonded to the second member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.