Metal Composite Materials Advantages And Disadvantages

Metal composite materials have found application in many areas of daily life for quite some time. Often it is not realized that the application makes use of composite materials. These materials are produced in situ from the conventional production and processing of metals. Materials like cast iron with graphite or steel with high carbide content, as well as tungsten carbides, consisting of carbides and metallic binders, also belong to this group of composite materials. For many researchers the term metal matrix composites is often equated with the term light metal matrix composites (MMCs). Substantial progress in the development of light metal matrix composites has been achieved in recent decades, so that they could be introduced into the most

This material group becomes interesting for use as constructional and functional materials, if the property profile of conventional materials either does not reach the increased standards of specific demands, or is the solution of the problem. However, the technology of MMCs is in competition with other modern material technologies. The advantages of the composite materials are only realized when there is a reasonable cost – performance relationship in the component production.
A composite material is a material system composed of a suitably arranged mixture or combination of two or more Nano, micro, or macro constituents with an interface separating them that differ in form and chemical composition and are essentially insoluble in each

According to the chemical nature of the matrix phase, composite are classified as metal matrix (MMC), polymer matrix (PMC) and ceramic matrix composites (CMC). MMC’s recently are drawing interests of the researchers because of the ability to alter their physical properties like density, thermal expansion, thermal diffusivity and mechanical properties like tensile and compressive behaviour, creep, tribological behaviour etc. by varying the filler phase. Also the growing requirement for advanced materials in the areas of aerospace and automotive industries had led to a rapid development of MMC’s. In AMC the matrix phase is of pure aluminium or an alloy of it and the reinforcement used is a non-metallic ceramic such as SiC, Al2O3, SiO2, B4C, and Al-N. Aluminium alloys are more and more used due to good corrosion resistance, high damping capacity, low density and good electrical and thermal conductivities. AMC’s have been tested and proved useful in different engineering sectors including functional and structural applications because of variation in mechanical properties depending upon the proportion of reinforcement and chemical composition of Al matrix.
The disadvantage of producing AMC’s usually lies in the relatively high cost of fabrication and of the reinforcement materials. The cost effective method for manufacturing composites is very important for expanding their application.