Manufacture of composite materials

A method of manufacturing a composite artefact comprising the steps of:

• i) forming a mixture in which particles of metal or metal alloy matrix material are inter-dispersed with particles of ceramic reinforcement material, the relative proportion of matrix and reinforcement corresponding to that desired in the finished composite artefact, and the volume percentage of reinforcement material being greater than 40,
• ii) heating the mixture to a temperature high enough to cause melting of the metal matrix material,
• iii) applying pressure in excess of 15,000 psi to the heated mixture in a die-press whereby sufficient shear and pressure forces are exerted upon the constituents to cause a substantial proportion of the molten metal particles to coalesce into a continuous matrix in which the particles of reinforcement are embedded, and
• iv) after a period of time of not more than several minutes when the matrix material has solidified, removing the solid artefact from the die.