GB1359554A - Composite materials - Google Patents

Abstract

1359554 Casting composite articles DEFENCE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR 19 May 1972 [5 March 1971] 6093/71 Heading B3F A process for making a composite material comprises providing in a mould a plurality of layers of fibrous material, providing a reservoir of molten metal between at least some of the layers and applying pressure to the contents of the mould to force the metal to surround all the fibres. The layers of fibrous material may be arranged either parallel or normal to the direction of approach of the pressure applying means. The metal may be introduced into the mould as a solid, e.g. as sheets inserted between sheets of fibrous material or as particles dispersed throughout each fibrous sheet, and melted in situ. Alternatively, the metal may be poured into the mould, sheets of fibrous material being arranged in the mould so that the metal can readily pass from one side to the other, e.g. by leaving a gap between the edge of each sheet and the mould wall or by providing a hole in the centre of each sheet. In another embodiment the sheets of fibrous material are forced into a mould which already contains molten metal. The layers of fibrous material may be constituted by a plurality of parallel sheets or by a rolled-up single sheet, Figs. 4 and 8 (not shown). Suitable fibrous materials include carbon, boron, glass, silica, asbestos, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and alumina and suitable metals include Al, Mg, Ti, Cu, Ni, Pb and Sn.