Device and process for producing metal/ceramic composite materials

Abstract

A device for producing metal/ceramic composite materials includes (1) an injection plunger; (2) a casting chamber having an opening through which casting metal is poured in and a ceramic precursor product is shot in; and (3) a die having a runner and a die cavity. A shot head is used to shoot ceramic powder into a die, so that the powder is compacted to form a porous preform. The preform is infiltrated with liquid metal under pressure in the die.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for producing metal/ceramic composite materials, comprising: 
 an injection plunger;    a casting chamber having an opening through which a casting metal is poured in and a ceramic precursor product is shot in; and    a die comprising a runner and a die cavity.    
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shot head for shooting in the ceramic precursor product, wherein the shot head can be movably fitted on the opening of the casting chamber.  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a casting ladle for pouring in the casting metal, wherein the casting ladle can be fitted on the opening pf the casting chamber.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a suction or blowing device that can be fitted onto the opening of the casting chamber for cleaning the casting chamber of residual ceramic precursor product.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the die comprises a runner with a blocking slide for separating the casting chamber from the die cavity.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the runner is between 10% and 30% of a volume of the die cavity.  
     
     
         7 . A device for producing metal/ceramic composite materials, comprising: 
 an injection plunger;    a casting chamber;    a die comprising a runner, a die cavity, and at least one closeable opening through which the die cavity is filled with a ceramic precursor product,    wherein the die cavity is connected to the casting chamber via the runner through a notch.    
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a shot head for filling the die cavity.  
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one blocking slide for closing the at least one opening of the die cavity.  
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the die cavity has one or more filter channels.  
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more filter channels narrow conically.  
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more filter channels are arranged a plane that parts the die cavity in two equal parts.  
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the die cavity has a removable insert that partially fills the die cavity.  
     
     
         14 . A process for producing metal/ceramic composite materials, comprising: 
 shooting a ceramic precursor product under gas pressure via a blowing medium, through an opening, into a die cavity of a die;    forming a preform from the ceramic precursor product; and    infiltrating the preform with a casting metal under pressure in the die.    
     
     
         15 . A process according to  claim 14 , wherein the ceramic precursor product is fluidized by the gas pressure.  
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 14 , further comprising separating the ceramic precursor product from the blowing medium by a filter channel before the blowing medium leaves the die cavity through an outlet valve.  
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 14 , further comprising opening or closing one or more openings of the die cavity.  
     
     
         18 . A process according to  claim 14 , wherein the ceramic precursor product comprises a powder having a globular grain structure with a monomodal distribution and a minimum grain size of more than 50 μm.  
     
     
         19 . A process according to  claim 14 , wherein the casting metal comprises at least one of aluminium, magnesium, an aluminum alloy, or a magnesium alloy.