Metal matrix composites (MMCs), which are a combination of two or more constituents with different physical or chemical properties, are today receiving great attention in various areas, as they have high specific strength, corrosion resistance, fatigue strength, and good tribological properties. This paper presents a research review on the combination of matrix and reinforced materials, fabrication processes, and application status of metal matrix composites. In this paper, we aim to discuss and review the importance of metal composite materials as advanced materials that can be used in various applications such as transportation, defense, sports, and extreme environments. In addition, the applicability and technology development trends in new process technology fields such as additive manufacturing of metal composites will be described.

The experimental data from the central composite design runs were utilized for mathematical models far the drilling characteristics containing linear, quadratic and interactive effects of the parameters such as volume fraction of TiC in the composites, drill speed, feed rate and drill diameter. The models were developed via stepwise selection where the insignificant effects were removed using t-test. The models were subjected to optimization of maximizing drill life and satisfying the other constraints.

Aluminum-based composites reinforced with various amounts of were produced by powder metallurgy (P/M). The machinability properties of were determined by means of cutting forces and surface roughness. Machining tests were carried out by using PCD and K10 tools. Increasing of volume fraction in the matrix resulted in a decrease of the surface roughness and turning forces. PCD cutting tools showed better cutting performance than K10 tools.

금속기지 복합물은 구조용 재료로서 매우 우수한 성질을 지니고 있어 광범위하게 연구되어져 왔다. Al2O3와 SiC는 그들의 우수한 기계적 특성 때문에 일반적인 보강재로서 사용되어져 왔다. 그러나 이들 세라믹 보강재는 비싼 재조 비용 때문에 특별한 목적을 위해서만 한정되어 사용되어져 왔다. 본 연구에서는 우리는 Al 합금기지 복합물에서 SHS법에 의해 합성된 Al2O3-SiC 분말의 보강재로서의 응용 가능성을 살펴보았다. 또한 Al2O3단섬유를 Al기지 하이브리드 복합물에 적용하기 위하여 합성된 분말과 함께 첨가하였다. 25vol% 강화재의 복합물을 제조하기 위하여 용탕단조법을 사용하였다. 미세구조와 결정구조는 SEM, OM 그리고 XRD로 관찰하였고 압축시험과 마모시험으로 기계적인 성질들을 조사하였다.

The fabrication process and properties of SiC particulate preforms with high volume fraction above 50% were investigated. The SiC particulate preforms were fabricated by vacuum-assisted extraction method after wet mixing of SiC particulates of 48 in diameter, as inorganic binder, cationic starch as organic binder and polyacrylamide as dispersant in distilled water. The SiC particulate preforms were consolidated by vacuum-assisted extraction, and were followed by drying and calcination. The drying processes were consisted with natural drying at for 36 hrs and forced drying at 10 for 12 hrs in order to prevent the micro-cracking of SiC particulates preform. The compressive strengths of SiC particulate preforms were dependent on the inorganic binder content, calcination temperature and calcination time. The compressive strength of SiC preform increased from 0.47 MPa to 1.79 MPa with increasing the inorganic binder content from 1% to 4% due to the increase of flocculant between the interfaces of SiC particulates. The compressive strength of SiC preform increased from 0.90 MPa to 3.21 MPa with increasing the calcination temperatures from 800 to 120 under identical calcination time of 4hrs. The compressive strength of SiC preform increased from 0.92 to 1.95 MPa with increasing the calcination time from 2 hrs to f hrs at calcination temperature of 110. The increase of compressive strength of SiC preform with increasing the calcination temperature and time is due to the formation of crystobalite phase at the interfaces of SiC particulates.

The variation of the microstructures and the mechanical properties with varying vacuum hot pressing temperature and pressure was investigated in PyM processed 20 vol%) SiCw/ 2124Al composites. As increasing the vacuum hot pressing temperature, the aspect ratio of whiskers and density of composites increased due to the softening of 2124Al matrix with the increased amount of liquid phase. The tensile strength of composite increased with increasing vacuum hot pressing temperature up to and became saturated above , To attain the high densification of composites above 99%, the vacuum hot pressing pressure was needed to be above 70 MPa. However, the higher vacuum hot pressing pressure above 70 MPa was not effective to increase the tensile strength due to the reduced aspect ratio of SiC whiskers from damage of whiskers during vacuum hot pressing. A phenomenological equation to predict the tensile strength of /2124AI composite was proposed as a function including two microstructural parameters, i.e. density of composites and aspect ratio of whiskers. The tensile strength of /2124AI were found more sensitive to the porosity than other P/M materials due to the higher stress concentration and reduced load transfer efficiency by the pores locating at whisker/matrix interfaces.

6061Al-SiCP metal matrix composite materials(MMCs) were fabricated by injecting SiCP particles directly into the atomized spray. The main attraction of this technique is the rapid fabrication of semi-finished, composite products in a combined atomization, particulate injection(10 , 40 , SiCP) and deposition operation. Conclusions obtained are as follows; The microstructure of the unreinforced spray formed 6061Al alloy consisted of relatively fine(50 ) equiaxed grains. By comparision, the microstructure of the I/M materials was segregated and consisted of relatively coarse(150 ) grains. The probability of clustering of SiCP particles in co-sprayed metal matrix composites increased it ceramic particle size(SiCP) was reduced and the volume fraction was held constant. Analysis of overspray powders collected from the spray atomization and deposition experiments indicated that morphology of powders were nearly spherical and degree of powders sphercity was deviated due to composite with SiCp particles. Interfacial bonding between matrix and ceramics was improved by heat treatment and addition of alloying elements(Mg). Maximum hardness values [Hv: 165 kg/mm2 for Al-10 SiCp Hv--159 kg/mm2 for Al-40 SiCp] were obtained through the solution heat treatment at for 2 hrs and aging at , and there by the resistance were improved.