Patent ID: 7131308

Claim:
A method of making a metal-cladded metal matrix composite wire, the method comprising: moving a metal matrix composite wire through a chamber, the metal matrix composite wire having an exterior surface, the metal matrix composite wire comprising: at least one tow, wherein the tow comprises a plurality of substantially continuous fibers that are oriented longitudinally with respect to each other, the fibers comprising at least one of ceramic or carbon; and a metal matrix, wherein each tow is positioned within the metal matrix; associating ductile metal with the exterior surface of the metal matrix composite wire within the chamber while the temperature in the chamber is held below the melting point of the ductile metal and the pressure in the chamber is sufficient to plasticize the ductile metal; and withdrawing the metal matrix composite wire with the associated ductile metal from the chamber under conditions that are effective to shape the associated ductile metal into a metal cladding that covers the exterior surface of the metal matrix composite wire to provide the metal-cladded metal matrix composite wire.