# US 5,701,943 A · Manufacture of composite materials

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- Number: US 5,701,943 A
- Document ID: US5701943A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/587,706
- Filed: 1996-01-19
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1995-01-27
- Assignees: AEA Technology plc
- Inventors: Robin Michael Kurt Young
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701943A

## CPC

- B22D 18/02: Pressure casting making use of mechanical pressure devices, e.g. cast-forging (B22D18/04 takes precedence)
- C22C 1/1036: {starting from a melt}
- C22C 1/1068: {Making hard metals based on borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides or silicides}
- B22D: CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES (shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; metallurgical processing, selection of substances to be added to metal C21, C22)
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)

## Abstract

Metal matrix composite is made by blending non-metal reinforcement powder with powder of metal or metal alloy matrix material, heating to a temperature high enough to cause melting of the matrix metal/alloy and subjecting the mixture to high pressure in a die press before solidification occurs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the die is pre-heated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure exerted in the die is at least 30,000 psi.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the volume percentage of reinforcement material is at least 45.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the volume percentage of reinforcement material is at least 60.