ABSTRACT
Particulate reinforcements are either metallic or ceramic particles where no dimension of the reinforcements is more than about five times the other two dimensions. Monofilaments used are mainly boron, silicon carbide, etc. These are very similar to the continuous fibers, the primary difference being the diameter of the reinforcements. Monofilaments are larger in diameter and are available as individual filaments wound in spools. Solid-state methods can be further subdivided into two groups: powder metallurgy methods and consolidation diffusion bonding. In the powder metallurgy methods, powders of the matrix material are blended with reinforcements. The reinforcements are taken in the form of particles, short fibers, or whiskers and the blending process results in a homogeneous mix. Short fibers and whiskers tend to get broken during the process of blending and consolidation and the final composite looks more like a particulate-reinforced composite.
