Composite Metal

Abstract

A metal composite comprising a milled and compacted mixture of powdered aluminium or aluminium alloy and ceramic particles, wherein, on loading of the aluminium with the ceramic particles, the ceramic particles are of an average size of between 0.85 μm and 0.6 μm.

1 . A metal composite comprising a milled and compacted mixture of powdered aluminium or aluminium alloy and ceramic particles, wherein, on loading of the aluminium with the ceramic particles, the ceramic particles are of an average size of between 0.85 μm and 0.6 μm. 
     
     
         2 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic particles are of an average size of between 0.75 μm and 0.65 μm. 
     
     
         3 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic particles are of 0.7 μm in size. 
     
     
         4 . A metal composite as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the aluminium is pure aluminium. 
     
     
         5 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the aluminium alloy is one having single or joint alloy additions of Cu, Mg, Mn, Li, Zn, Si, Zr, Cr, Fe, Ni, Ti. 
     
     
         6 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the aluminium alloy is a medium strength alloy including Cu, Mg and Mn. 
     
     
         7 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the medium strength alloy is AA2124, 
     
     
         8 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the aluminium alloy is a low strength alloy including Mg, Si and Cu. 
     
     
         9 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the low strength alloy is AA6061. 
     
     
         10 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic particles of silicon carbide, boron carbide or aluminium oxide. 
     
     
         11 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volume percentage loading of ceramic particles in the aluminium or aluminium alloy is between 15% and 50%. 
     
     
         12 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volume percentage loading of ceramic particles in the aluminium or aluminium alloy is between 18% and 40%. 
     
     
         13 . A metal composite as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volume percentage loading of ceramic particles in the aluminium or aluminium alloy is 18%, 25% or 40%. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled)