Fabrication of carbon long fibre reinforced magnesium parts by high pressure die casting

There is a growing demand for lightweight structural parts which are able to offer increased high temperature properties combined with advanced wear resistance. These requirements can be achieved by carbon long fibre reinforced magnesium parts. Within the development of an industrial-scale process for fibre infiltration and the integration of preinfiltrated metal matrix composites, a suitable high pressure die casting method is under evaluation at the facilities of the Foundry Institute of RWTH Aachen University. The special challenge of a high melt velocity and pressure is taken into account and calls for innovative solutions that are presented in this project. A new electric fibre heating system has been implemented in the process to assist infiltration as together with a new special two step clamping device which ensures the proper fit. A great advantage of this new method is that the fibre preforms are preheated in the closed die in a protective atmosphere/vacuum until casting takes places.