A METHOD OF FORMING METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE BODIES BY A¹SELF-GENERATED VACUUM PROCESS, AND PRODUCTS PRODUCED¹THEREFROM

摘要

The present invention relates to a novel process for forming metal matrix composite bodies. Particularly, a suitable matrix metal (33), typically in a molten state, is in contact with a suitable filler material (31) or preform in the presence of a suitable reactive atmosphere in an impermeable container (32), at least at some point during the process, which permits a reaction to occur between the reactive atmosphere and the molten matrix metal (33) and /or filler material (31) or preform and/or impermeable container (32), thereby causing molten matrix metal (33) to infiltrate the filler material (31) or preform due to, at least in part, the creation of a self-generated vacuum. Such self-generated vacuum infiltration occurs without the application of any external pressure or vacuum.