Review on fabrication methods of in situ metal matrix composites

This paper deals with a series of novel processing techniques based on the in situ production of metal matrix composites (MMCs). In situ techniques in volve a chemical reaction resulting in the formation of a very fine and the rmodynamically stable reinforcing ceramic phase within a metal matrix. As a result, this provides thermodynamic compatibility at the matrix-reinforcem ent interface. The reinforcement surfaces are also likely to be free of con tamination and, therefore, a stronger matrix-dispersion bond can be achieve d. Some of these technologies including DIMOX(TM), XD, PRIMEX(TM), reactive gas infiltration, high-temperature self-propagating synthesis (SHS), and l iquid-solid, or solid-gas-liquid reactions as well as plasma in situ MMCs a re expressed in this paper.