Aluminium double composite structures reinforced with composite wires

Ceramic and carbon fiber reinforced aluminium metal matrix composite wires were produced with diameters from 0.1 to 2.5 mm and fiber content of up to 60% v/o. The carbon fibers were CVD or electroplated to improve wettability. Due to the high production rate, interface reactions were reduced significantly, resulting in excellent mechanical properties. Composite wires produced using the continuous process are suitable to simplify the introduction of fiber reinforcements into aluminium castings as well as the production of double composite, sandwich and preferentially reinforced structures. Mechanical tests show that structures reinforced with the composite wires have significantly higher load carrying capacity than structures reinforced directly with fibers or structures without any reinforcement.