Processing and applications of functionally graded cast metals and metal matrix composites

摘要

Functionally Graded Materials (FGM) is defined as two-component materials with gradually changing composition or microstructure from one component to the other. This type of transitional structure in a material develops superior property such as thermal conductivity or wear resistance at certain locations of a component and at the same time maintains required property such as toughness at other locations. For example, a material with a very hard phase on its surface gradually decreases its content towards the core whereas the content of a soft and ductile phase tends to increase. A component with such structure would be highly wear-resistant due to the presence of hard phase at the surface and it would be sufficiently tough due to the presence of soft and ductile phase at its core.