ABSTRACT
A wide variety of metallurgical processes have been employed for the fabrication of filament reinforced metal matrix composites. The most widely used method of consolidation of metal matrix composites is the simultaneous application of heat and pressure, known as diffusion-bonding. Control of filament spacing can be achieved by co-winding of the matrix wire between the reinforcing filaments. This also reduces the amount of excess bulk which must be removed in the consolidation process. The method of plasma spray bonding to prepare monolayer tapes which are then consolidated by diffusion-bonding into thicker sections has become an important consolidation process. In actual practice, however, filament breakage at low temperatures forces the use of higher consolidation temperatures where serious filament degradation occurs. High volume loadings of reinforcement would probably cause extensive filament damage. The matrix-coated filament would appear to offer more potential in this regard for the extrusion process.
