A new process for the fabrication of in-situ particle reinforced metalmatrix composites

The fabrication processes of metal matrix composites are very important for their application. There are many kinds of processes used, such as the squeeze casting process, the vacuum-high pressure infiltration process and the stirring casting process. In this article, a new brief process for the fabrication of particle reinforced metal matrix composites will be introduced that has been used for silicon particulate reinforced Al-based composite and zinc-based composite. This process is the rheological compocasting process of a multi-component system in which a part of the raw materials mix with the rest where the latter are in the form of semi-solid moltens. The primary phases that are in the semi-solid molten material are left and are used as reinforcement phases. The tests show that the process is feasible, convenient and practical.