Production of natural and synthesized aluminum-based composite materials with the aid of ultrasonic (cavitation) treatment of the melt

The application of ultrasonic melt treatment to the production of natural and synthesized. aluminum-based composite materials is considered in terms of underlying basic ideas and commercial implementations. It is shown that the ultrasonic cavitation treatment combined with microalloying of hypereutectic Al-Si natural composites (alloys) promotes the formation of structures suitable for further deformation. The use of highly impure starting materials becomes also possible. The combination of ultrasonic cavitation treatment with electromagnetic stirring allows one to considerably improve the size and spatial distribution of ceramic particles in metal-matrix composites. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.