Patent ID: 6460597
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: B22F,C22C,H01B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making an article, the method comprising:providing a preform comprising continuous polycrystalline &agr;-Al2O3 fibers in a mold; pressure infiltrating said mold with a matrix material in molten form selected from the group consisting aluminum and an alloy of aluminum with up to 2% by weight copper, based on the total weight of said matrix material, into said mold such that said matrix material infiltrates said fibers, and wherein said matrix material contains less than 0.05 percent by weight impurities, based on the total weight of said matrix material; and solidifying the infiltrated matrix material and removing the resulting article from said mold to provide an article comprising a composite material comprising a plurality of continuous polycrystalline &agr;-Al2O3 fibers contained within a matrix comprising aluminum, wherein said matrix is free of material phases or domains capable of the enhancing brittleness of said matrix, and wherein said composite material has an average tensile strength of greater than 1.17 GPa.