Patent ID: 7694713

Claim:
A process to produce a reinforced aluminum alloy comprising the steps of: a) preparing a mixture of a powdered graphite with a powdered copper, optionally zinc or boron, by at least one of mechanical milling or mechanical alloying, in an inert atmosphere of nitrogen or argon; b) pulverizing aluminum to 70 microns (−200 meshes) during 0.3 to 10 hours, in an inert atmosphere of argon or nitrogen; c) encapsulating the graphite mixture inside the aluminum by adding the product of step a) to the product of step b) and grinding it during 0.3 to 6 hours in an inert atmosphere of argon or nitrogen; d) optionally adding to the product of step a) and step b) an anti-agglomerate agent chosen from methanol, ethanol, polyethylene glycol, boric acid, stearic acid, hexane, benzene, or ciclohexane prior to step c); and e) adding to the product of the step d) to aluminum in liquid state, in an inert atmosphere of argon or nitrogen.