Loading patent…
AssigneeAerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
InventorsHenri Abiven, Lionel Picquet, Gilles Claveyrolas, Jean-Claude Viala, Jean Bouix
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a composite material combining a magnesium alloy containing zirconium with a carbon reinforcement, as well as to its production process. According to the invention, such a composite material is prepared by the infiltration of a reinforcement formed from graphite or carbon fibres by a liquid magnesium alloy containing 0.3 to 1% by weight zirconium at a temperature of 650.degree. to 850.degree. C. Under these conditions, on said fibres is formed a zirconium carbide layer containing magnesium in solid solution and e.g. complying with the formula ZrC.sub.x Mg.sub.y with 0.3<x<1 and 0.02<y<0.12, which leads to the wetting of the fibres by the melted magnesium and to a good adhesion between the fibres and the matrix, without any deterioration to the mechanical characteristics of the fibres.
Process for the production of a composite material comprising a magnesium alloy matrix containing zirconium and a reinforcement of graphite or carbon fibres dispersed in said matrix and having a zirconium carbide layer containing magnesium in solid solution at the interface between the fibres and the magnesium-based matrix, which comprises infiltrating into said reinforcement a liquid magnesium alloy containing zirconium, the zirconium content said alloy being maintained at saturation during said infiltrating, said infiltration carried out at a temperature of 650.degree. to 850.degree. C. while maintaining said temperature for about 2-60 min.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.