Abstract
A substantial effort has recently been made to fabricate numerous combinations of metal matrix composites. Aluminium metal matrix composite (AlMMCs) has been extremely popular among MMCs and is best suited for lighter materials in various industries and domestic applications. AlMMCs have significant faults in terms of production costs. More research is needed to develop AlMMCs that are both economic and suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. AlMMCs are manufactured using the casting technique, solid-state processing, infiltration method, accumulative roll bonding, spray deposition, friction stir processing, and other technologies. This chapter will summarize the current state of the art in aluminum-based metal matrix composites, as well as recent developments in processing and application, all in one location, so that relevant stakeholders can benefit the most and new advancements on such themes can be fostered.
TopIntroduction
Metals are a naturally occurring resource found in the earth's crust, and their compositions differ depending on where they are located, resulting in spatial concentration differences. The qualities of the specific material, as well as environmental factors, influence metal accumulation and distribution in the environment (Jaishankar et al., 2014). Higher specific strengths and elastic modulus, increased tolerance to rising temperatures, decreased coefficients of thermal expansion, and, in some cases, improved wear resistance are all advantages of metal matrix composites over their base metal equivalents. On the negative side, they are more expensive and have a lower toughness than their base metal counterparts. Metal matrix composites also have several advantages over polymer matrix composites, including higher matrix dependent strength and elastic modulus, higher elevated temperature resistance (due to their lack of moisture absorption), higher electrical and thermal conductivities, and the fact that they are nonflammable. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are often more expensive than polymer matrix composites, and their manufacturing procedures are much more limited, especially for complex structural geometries. Metal matrix composites are used in a small number of commercial applications due to their high cost. There are some limited applications for discontinuously reinforced MMCs, but there are virtually no applications for continuously reinforced MMCs at this time. For today's engineering applications, stronger, lighter-weight, and lower-cost materials are necessary. In the field of engineering applications, AMCs are well-known for providing precisely the tailored property materials that are required. Advanced metal composites (AMCs) are rapidly replacing standard metal alloys in a variety of applications as their uses expand, notably in the automotive, aerospace, biomedical, and manufacturing industries (Maniraj et al., 2021). Metal matrix composites can be subdivided according to the type of reinforcement shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Metal matrix composite reinforcements
Key Terms in this Chapter
In-Situ: During processing, the reinforcement is generated within the matrix as a result of reaction.
Infiltration: Filtration allows a liquid to permeate into something.
Metallurgy: Properties of metals and their production and purification
Reinforcement: Material that enhances the strength or other mechanical properties of the composite.
Alloy: A metallic material made up of two or more chemical compounds, at least one of which is a metal.
Composite: A mixture of two or more insoluble materials that exhibits qualities superior to those of either of the component materials.
Crucible: A ceramic pot consisting of materials with a relatively high thermal conductivity, such as graphite, and joined with clay or carbon. It is used to melt metals.
Metal Matrix: Acts as a continuous phase and accommodates the reinforcement material.
Additive: Adds material layer by layer or point by point to create an object
Casting: A technique in which hot liquid metal flows into a mold cavity and solidifies.