Abstract
An alternative route for the production of particle reinforced MMCs by infiltration with any volume fraction of particles up to ∼50% is described. The process is based on the infiltration by a low melting temperature eutectic alloy of porous preforms prepared with a mixture of the reinforcing ceramic particles and a pure metal powder. The infiltration is done at temperatures above the eutectic and below the fusion temperature of the pure metal; Once infiltrated with the eutectic, the solidification can proceed with a planar front and it is controlled by the partition of the alloy elements between the solid powder and the melt. Experimental results show that a homogeneous spatial distribution of reinforcement particles in the MMC can be achieved, provided that the reinforcement particles are the same size as the pure metal powder.
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