Composite material including silicon nitride whisker type short fiber reinforcing material and aluminum alloy matrix metal with moderate copper and magnesium contents

摘要

A composite material is made from silicon nitride whisker type short fiber material embedded in a matrix of metal. The matrix metal is an alloy consisting essentially of from approximately 2% to approximately 6% of copper, from approximately 0.5% to approximately 3% of magnesium, and remainder substantially aluminum. The fiber volume proportion of the silicon nitride type short fibers is between approximately 5% and approximately 50%, and may more desirably be between approximately 5% and approximately 40%. The magnesium content of the aluminum alloy matrix metal may desirably be between approximately 0.5% and approximately 2.5%. And, in the desirable case that the fiber I volume proportion of the silicon nitride whisker type short fiber material is between approximately 30% and approximately 40%, then the copper content of the aluminum alloy matrix metal is desired to be between approximately 2% and approximately 5%.