Patent ID: 8647453

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a fibre reinforced metal matrix composite article, the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first metal component, (b) forming a second metal component, (c) forming at least one fibre preform, the at least one fibre preform comprising at least one metal coated fibre, (d) bonding the metal at least one first portion of the at least one metal coated fibre of the at least one fibre preform to the metal at least one second portion of the at least one metal coated fibre of the at least one fibre preform to hold the at least one fibre in position, wherein the bonding comprises ultrasonic welding, (e) placing the at least one fibre preform between the first metal component and the second metal component, (f) sealing the second metal component to the first metal component, and (g) applying heat and pressure such as to consolidate the at least one fibre preform and to diffusion bond the metal on the fibre of the at least one fibre preform, the first metal component and the second metal component to form a unitary composite article.