P/M aluminum metal matrix composites

Development of lightweight, high specific stiffness engineered materials has been the long term goal of many investigators. Recently, this quest has focused on discontinuously reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites. This paper reviews the fabrication of powder metallurgy discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites. Emphasis is given to the differences in heat treatment response reported between unreinforced and reinforced powder metallurgy materials. It is proposed that these observations can be rationalized by considering the effects of pre-existing heterogeneous nucleation sites, i.e., the dislocation substructure developed during rapid cooling of discontinuously reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites, on precipitation in reinforced aluminum alloys.