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US 8,550,145 B2Granted
Method of manufacturing a metal matrix composite
AssigneeCentury, LLC
InventorsThomas D. Wood, Neil Anderson, Andrew Halonen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming a metal matrix composite (MMC),such as a brake drum, by impregnating a preform, which is formed of ceramic particles and ceramic fibers, with a support element, such as a metal. The MMC has a wear surface defined by both the preform and the support element.
Claims10
A method of forming a brake drum for a vehicle by impregnating a preform with a metal with the preform having an inner surface and an opposing outer surface and formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers utilizing a mold having a cavity, said method comprising the steps of:
- mixing the composition;
- shaping the composition into a cylindrical configuration after the composition has been mixed to define the preform having a continuous inner surface;
- positioning the preform within a portion of the cavity of the mold;
- heating the metal to form a molten metal;
- injecting the molten metal into the cavity of the mold adjacent the outer surface of the preform under pressure;
- infiltrating the preform with the molten metal through the outer surface to the inner surface of the preform;
- and
- cooling the molten metal to solidify the molten metal and define the brake drum having a wear surface formed of the infiltrated inner surface with exposed metal, ceramic particles and ceramic fibers.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.