METHOD OF PREPARING IMPROVED EUTECTIC OR HYPER-EUTECTIC ALLOYS AND COMPOSITES BASED THEREON

摘要

A method is described for preparing a refined eutectic or hyper-eutectic metal alloy, comprising: melting the eutectic or hyper-eutectic metal alloy; adding particles of nonmetallic refractory material to the molten metal matrix; mixing together the molten metal alloy and the particles of refractory material, and; casting the resulting mixture under conditions causing precipitation of at least one intermetallic phase from the molten metal matrix during solidification thereof such that the intermetallics formed during solidification wet and engulf said refractory particles. The added particles may be very small and serve only to refine the precipitating intermetallics in the alloy or they may be larger and serve as reinforcing particles in a composite with the alloy.