Processes for Making Functionally Graded Materials and Products Produced by These Processes

摘要

The invention relates to a novel process for commercial production of bulk functionally graded materials (FGM) with a per-determined axial, radial, and spherical gradient profiles. The process is based on the reiterated deformation of the layers of variable cross-section thicknesses made of different materials. That allows significant savings of time, energy and materials. Metals, ceramics, glasses and polymers in different combinations can be brought together with a continuous or stepwise gradual change from one material to another. The invention can be applied to industrial production of functionally graded materials with different types of gradient profiles, which cannot be produced by the existing technologies and which are sought by many key industries. The mechanical, thermal and optical responses of materials produced by the proposed methods are of considerable interest in optics, optoelectronics, tribology, biomechanics, nanotechnology and high temperature technology.