Preparation of a coated metal-matrix composite material
AssigneeHughes Electronics Corporation
InventorsJohn K. Lim, Joseph S. Russo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite material of silicon carbide particles in an aluminum matrix is base coated with a layer of a nickel-boron alloy by an electroless process. The base-coated composite material is heat treated at a temperature of about 450.degree. C. to interdiffuse the base coating with the composite material. A nickel or gold top layer is electrolytically deposited over the base coat on the heat-treated composite material.
Claims17
A method for preparing a coated metal-matrix composite material, comprising the steps of:
- furnishing a piece of a composite material having an aluminum matrix and reinforcement particles dispersed therein;
- depositing a metallic base coating having a first composition onto at least a portion of the piece of composite material to form a base-coated composite material;
- thereafter
- heating the base-coated composite material to a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause the base coating to interdiffuse into the piece of composite material, forming a heat-treated composite material;
- and
- depositing a metallic top coating having a second composition directly onto the base coating on the heat-treated composite material.
A method for preparing a coated metal-matrix composite material, comprising the steps of:
- furnishing a piece of a composite material having an aluminum matrix and silicon carbide reinforcement particles dispersed therein;
- depositing by an electroless process a metallic base coating having a first composition onto at least a portion of the piece of composite material to form a base-coated composite material;
- heating the base-coated composite material to a temperature of from about 440.degree. C. to about 460.degree. C. for a time of from about 14 hours to about 16 hours;
- and
- depositing by an electrolytic process a metallic top coating having a second composition directly onto the base coating on the heat-treated composite material.
A method for preparing a coated metal-matrix composite material, comprising the steps of:
- furnishing a piece of a composite material having an aluminum matrix and silicon carbide reinforcement particles dispersed therein;
- depositing by an electroless process a nickel-boron metallic base coating onto at least a portion of the piece of composite material to form a base-coated composite material;
- heating the base-coated composite material in nitrogen gas to a temperature of from about 440.degree. C. to about 460.degree. C. for a time of from about 14 hours to about 16 hours;
- and
- depositing by an electrolytic process a metallic top coating having a second composition directly onto the base coating on the heat-treated composite material, the top coating having a composition selected from the group consisting of a nickel alloy and a gold alloy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.