Fabrication of metal matrix composites by vacuum die casting
AssigneeAluminum Company of America
InventorsDavid I. Yun, Ralph R. Sawtell, Warren H. Hunt, H. Robert Baumgartner, Eric T. Streicher, Michael F. Ehman
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Abstract
Metal matrix composites are manufactured in a vacuum die casting machine. Solid aggregate material, at least 65 volume percent, is placed in a die, the die is evacuated and heated, and molten metal is driven by a piston to infiltrate the solid aggregate material where it subsequently solidifies to form a metal matrix composite.
Claims1
An MMC manufacturing method comprising loading a partially sintered aggregate preform containing at least 65 v % aggregate into a die cavity, providing a charge of molten metal, applying vacuum to said aggregate and molten metal, heating the aggregate, and molten metal to assure complete infiltration of the aggregate, moving the molten metal by a piston to infiltrate the aggregate in the die cavity, piston speed being at a level for avoiding damage to the preform, and solidifying the molten metal which has infiltrated the aggregate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.