Production of composite materials by powder injection molding and infiltration

Abstract

Metal-metal or metal-ceramic/carbide composite materials are fabricated by combination of powder injection molding and infiltration. This is achieved by first forming a composite system having a matrix component and an infiltrant layer. The matrix component is formed from a metal or ceramic/carbide powder, that is of a higher melting point, admixed with a first binder. The infiltrant layer is formed from a metal powder, that is of a lower melting point, admixed with a second binder. The first and second binders are subsequently removed from the composite system during a debinding process. The composite system is then heated in a sintering furnace to coalesce the matrix component into a matrix phase having a network of interconnected pores, and to effect infiltration of the infiltrant layer into these pores to form the composite material of the present invention.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.