Intermetallic

Matrix
Composites

Abhinav Singhal
Bachelor of Technology (Mechanical Engg.)
Batch 2007-11
VI Semester – III Year
Sec – I , Roll no. 0709740003
in the Seminar Class for
Spring 2010

December 8, 2021
 Table Of Content
 Intermetallic Matrix Composites
 Intermetallics
 Matrices
 Reinforcements
 Continuous Reinforcements
 Discontinuous Reinforcements
 Composites
 Properties
 Manufacturing and Forming Methods
 Solid state Methods
 Liquid State Methods
 Gaseous State Method
 In situ fabrication Technique
 Molybdenum Disilicides
 Titanium Aluminides
 Applications
 Future of IMCS

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 Intermetallic
Matrix Composites
A Intermetallic matrix composite (IMC) is a
composite material with an intermetallic matrix being used as a base
and other constituents as reinforcement parts. The other material
may be a different metal or other materials such as a ceramic.

 Intermetallic compounds are brittle.

 They have high melting temp.
 They offer a compromise between ceramics and
metallic properties.
 They also display desirable magnetic, superconducting and
chemical properties, due to their strong internal order and
mixed bonding.

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 Intermetallics
 Intermetallics are formed as a
combinations of two or more
metals.
 Mixed together in certain
proportions.
 React to produce a solid
phase.
 Distinctively different from the
constituent elements.
 Due to a difference in the
chemical bonding.

•TiAl3 intermetallic matrix composite

December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin Source :Archives of Materials Science,
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 Matrices
 Matrices are monolithic
material.
 Reinforcement are embedded
into them.
 Completely continuous.
 Usually a lighter metal such as
aluminium , magnesium , or
titanium.
 Provides a compliant support
for the reinforcement.
 In high temperature
applications, cobalt and cobalt-
nickel alloy matrices are used. •Mo metal matrix

December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin Source :ISIJ International, Vol. 31
ghal (1991 ). No. 10, pp. 1249-1259
 Reinforcements

 Reinforcement material is embedded into the matrix.

 They does not always serve a purely structural task
 Also used to change physical properties such as:
 Wear resistance,
 Friction coefficient, or
 Thermal conductivity

The reinforcement can be either :

 Continuous, or
 Discontinuous.
December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin
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Continuous
Reinforcements

 Continuous reinforcement uses monofilament wires.

 Or, fibers such as carbon fiber or silicon carbide.
 Because the fibers are embedded into the matrix in a certain
direction, the result is an anisotropic structure
 Most common reinforcing materials are alumina and silicon carbide.

December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin

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Discontinuous
Reinforcements

 Discontinuous IMCs are isotropic.

 They uses short fibers or particles.
 Can be worked with standard metalworking techniques, such as
 Extrusion,
 Forging or
 Rolling.
 They may be machined using conventional techniques also.

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 Composites
A materials system composed
of two or more physically
distinct phases whose
combination produces
aggregate properties that are
different from those of its
constituents is known as a
composite.

Formation of Intermetallic composites

with B as the matrix and A and C
As reinforcing element

December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin Source : Google search
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 Properties of IMCS

 Increased specific strength

   Increased specific stiffness
   Increased elevated temperature strength
   Improved wear resistance
   Lower density
   Improved damping capabilities
   Tolerable thermal expansion coefficients
   Good corrosion resistance

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Manufacturing and
Forming Methods
IMC manufacturing can be broken into Four types:
 Solid state Methods :
 Powder blending and consolidation (Powder metallurgy)
 Foil diffusion bonding
 Liquid State Methods :
 Electroplating / Electroforming
 Stir casting
 Squeeze casting
 Spray deposition
 Reactive processing
 Gaseous State Method :
 Physical vapour deposition
 In situ fabrication technique
December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin
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 Solid State Methods
 Powder blending and
consolidation (
powder metallurgy):
Powdered metal matrix and
discontinuous
reinforcement are mixed
and then bonded through a
process of compaction,
degassing, and thermo-
mechanical treatment.

 Foil diffusion bonding:

Layers of metal foil are
sandwiched with long
fibers, and then pressed
through to form a matrix.
Powder Metallurgy process

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 Liquid State Methods
 Electroplating / Electroforming: A solution containing metal ions
loaded with reinforcing particles is co-deposited forming a
composite material.

 Stir casting: Discontinuous reinforcement is stirred into molten

metal, which is allowed to solidify.

 Squeeze casting: Molten metal is injected into a form with fibers

preplaced inside it.

 Spray deposition: Molten metal is sprayed onto a continuous fiber

substrate.

 Reactive processing: A chemical reaction occurs, with one of the

reactants forming the matrix and the other the reinforcement.
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 Gaeseous State Method
 Spray co-deposition

 Physical vapor deposition:

The fiber is passed through
a thick cloud of vaporized
metal,coating it.

 Sputtering and plasma

spraying

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In Situ Fabrication Technique
 Controlled unidirectional
solidification of a eutectic alloy
result in a two-phase
microstructure with one of the
phases, present in lamellar or
fiber form, distributed in the
matrix

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 Molybdenum Disilicides
 Molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) is a promising material for high temperature
structural applications.
 It has a high-melting-point (2030 oC)
 Excellent oxidation resistance.
 A moderate density (6.24 g/cm3).
 However, low toughness at low temperatures and high creep rates at
elevated temperatures have hindered its commercialization in structural
applications.
 MoSi2 heating-elements have been used extensively in high-temperature
furnaces.
 Applications of MoSi2-based materials include:
 Turbine airfoils,
 Combustion chamber components,
 Missile nozzles,
 Industrial gas burners,
 Diesel engine glow plugs, and
 Materials for glass processing.

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 Titanium Aluminides
 TiAl/Ti3Al have higher elastic
modulus,
 Lower density, at elevated
temperatures, and
 Higher oxidation resistance
 They possess even higher specific
strength and specific stiffness.
 Increased creep strength &
improved toughness.
 But due to difficulties in their
production by conventional
methods
 And the high cost of powder
processing they are not put
extensively into commercial use. Microscopic view of Ti3Al powder

December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin Source : Archives of Materials Science,
ghal Vol. 29, No. 4, 2008
 APPLICATIONS
 Carbide drills are made from a tough Nickel cobalt matrix with hard
tungsten carbide particles inside.
 Tank armors are made from IMC’s, usually steel reinforced with boron
nitride.
 Modern high-performance sport cars, such as those built by
Porsche, use rotors made of carbon fiber within a silicon carbide matrix .
 Honda had been using aluminides for cylinder liners in some of their
engines.
 The F-16 Fighting Falcon uses monofilament silicon carbide fibres in a
titanium aluminides matrix for a structural component of the jet's
landing gear.
 Specialized Bicycles uses aluminium IMC compounds for top of the
range bicycle frames .

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APP. Of
IMC’S In
Space Exploration
While the desire for high-
precision and dimensionally
stable spacecraft structures
has driven the development of
IMCs, applications so far have
been limited due to difficult
fabrication processes. The first
successful application of
continuous-fiber reinforced Mid-fuselage structure of Space Shuttle
IMC has been the application
of TiAl tubular struts used as
the frame and rib truss
members in the mid-fuselage
section, and as the landing
gear of the Space Shuttles . Hubble Space Telescope Cast Tubes
December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin Source : Wikipedia
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 Future Of IMCS

IMC’s are nearly always more expensive than the more

conventional materials they are replacing. As a result, they are
found where improved properties and performance can justify
the added cost. Today these applications are found most often
in aircraft components, space system and high-end sports
equipment and automobiles . The scope of applications will
certainly increase as manufacturing costs are reduced and
more efficient techiniques to process IMC’s are
introduced/invented .

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References :
 Archives of Materials Science, Vol. 29, No. 4, 2008
 ISIJ International, Vol. 31 (1991 ). No. 10, pp. 1249-1259
 R. Suryanarayanan, S. M. L. Sastry, and K. L. Jerina,Vol. 42, 3751-
3755, 1994.
 Roberto Orrù, Roberta Licheri et al: Self-propagating combustion
synthesis of intermetallic matrix composites , Z-Tec Publishing,
Bremen Microgravity sci. technol. XIX-5/6 (2007)
 R. Subramanian and J.H. Schneibel: JOM, Aug. (1997) 50-54.
 J.J. PETROVIC, R.G. CASTRO, D.P. BUTT,DOE/AIM PROJECT
1998
 The Science and Engineering of Materials, 4th ed Donald R.
Askeland – Pradeep P. Phulé

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 THANK

YOU

December 8, 2021 Intermetallic Matrix Composites by Abhinav Sin

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