Patent ID: 7625520
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: B22F,C22C

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a framed-metal-matrix-composite-plate/sheet from a powder mixture, said method comprising: a. producing said powder mixture by uniformly mixing a matrix metal powder and at least one reinforcement material, wherein said reinforcement material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, titanium carbide, titanium silicide, molybdenum silicide, nickel aluminate, boron carbide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, gadolinium oxide, ceramic materials and mixtures thereof; b. loading said uniformly mixed powder mixture into a metal frame being a box framed on all sides to form a framed mixture, further comprising compacting said framed mixture to form a framed compact of a composite having 50% to 95% of the theoretical density and uniform composition; c. consolidating said framed compact to form a flamed-billet of a composite having a uniform composition that is between about 98% and about 100% of theoretical density, wherein said consolidation further comprises degassing of said framed compact to form a degassed-framed-compact; d. rolling said framed-billet to form said framed-metal-matrix-composite-plate/sheet without edge cracks, wherein said plate/sheet is comprised of thin skins of said frame metal, which encapsulate said metal-matrix-composite having uniform composition as a thick core; and; e. said method results in a high sheet yield rate for producing said framed-metal-matrix-composite-plate/sheet; comprising said thick core of the composite that has said uniform composition.