Processing of advanced ceramic composites: issues of producibility, affordability, reliability, and tailorability

The significant advantages of advanced ceramic materials when compared to metals are severely compromised by high manufacturing costs and brittleness related problems. The development of ceramic matrix composites usually involves processing-property tradeoffs that, in most cases, make advanced performance components unaffordable for general commodity applications. Some new, mainly reaction formed composites, however, seem to offer a way out of this dilemma. The present paper reviews processes and properties of such low cost, high value added components with emphasis on reactively synthesised ceramic-metal composites of near net shape. After property and cost evaluations, the production methods and the resulting composites are assessed with respect to future applications.