THE ROLE OF SIC PARTICULATE AND AL2O3 (SAFFIL) FIBERS IN SEVERAL ALLOYS DURING THE FORMATION OF IN-SITU MMCS DEVELOPED BY LASER PROCESSING

Laser surface treatments have recently been developed for the incorpor ation of ceramic particulate into metals or alloys, to produce a surfa ce in situ MMC (metal matrix composite) layer. Based on the laser proc esses of alloy-ceramic systems carried out in the present work, some c haracteristics of the ceramic, such as the energy absorption, the ther mal conductivity, the dissolution, and the relative density, are found to be very important in the process. The energy absorption and the th ermal conductivity together can be used as one criterion for the selec tion of the ceramic to be used in the process described in this work, and the extent of dissolution and the relative density of ceramic shou ld be given particular consideration in designing the processing condi tions. The purpose of this work is to investigate the basic influences of SiC particulate and Al2O3 fibre on the formation of an MMC layer b y laser processing, and it is believed that the discussions in the pre sent work will be applicable for a wider use of this laser process.