Fiber reinforced metal matrix composite by a high deformation consolidation process

Reinforcement geometry affects strengthening significantly for metal matrix composites. Using rule of mixtures, which assumes perfect stress transfer from matrix to reinforcement, as well as a differential CTE mechanism, which assumes a dislocation generation effect to strengthen the matrix, it can be shown that particulate reinforcement types are inherently inefficient for strengthening. As an alternative, a Ni pre-form fiber system has been used in this work as the reinforcement. The preform type eliminates the mixing problems inherent for a particulate system, but itself also introduces an additional binder burn-off step. Subsequent compaction was done using a cold isostatic press up to 3000 bars(^-300 MPa), with the consolidation achieved by means of a hot extrusion / hot pressing method.