Though it’s not a metal, adding straw into mud to make bricks that don’t crumble easily might represent the first composite material documented in history. Surprisingly, some currently standing mud-composite buildings have lasted for hundreds of years, demonstrating adobe’s clear superiority over mud or straw alone as a building material.
Relying on similar principals of gaining beneficial properties by creating composites, manufacturers use various metals to create matrix metal composites. In turn, some of today’s most important and innovative industries rely upon these materials.
How Manufacturers Use Different Metals in Matrix Metal Composites
Matrix metal composites, often called MMCs, refer to a class of materials with a metal, alloy, or intermetallic compound that’s reinforced with another material. Common examples of matrix metals include aluminum-, magnesium-, titanium-, and copper-based composites. To understand how manufacturers use various metals to create MMCs, look at some examples.
Aluminum-Based Composites
As noted by Science Direct, aluminum gets used the most often in MMCs, in particular by the aerospace, automotive, and other transportation industries. As an example, silicon reinforcement can improve the wear resistance and compressive strength of this lightweight metal. This kind of composite often gets used in train brake rotors, naval clutch drums, and aircraft pistons.
Titanium-Based Composites
When compared to aluminum-based composites, titanium-based composites stay strong at higher temperatures. They’re also very good at resisting corrosion. Defense applications use titanium composites in building missile silos, and the aerospace industry may use them in airplane bodies.
Magnesium-Based Composites
Magnesium-based composites hold promise for biomedical applications. For example, researchers hope to use magnesium MMCs to make temporary implants. Beneficial properties of these materials include the facts that they’re biodegradable and bio-compatible, plus they have a density that’s similar to that of bone.
Copper-Based Composites
Copper MMCs demonstrate superior properties for high-temperature strength and thermal conductivity. Both the electronics and automotive industries rely upon copper-based MMCs for their ability to resist corrosion and wear. As one example, the microelectronics industry often uses a copper-silver composite because of its ability to withstand and dispel heat.
Why Do Various Industries Rely on MMCs?
Why do MMCs suit the needs of various applications better than alloys or other materials? Mainly, the desired properties of the material can’t be achieved with existing processes and treatments for metals, alloys, or other materials but can by using a matrix metal composite. As a class of materials, matrix metal composites have only existed for about 50 years but are currently used in advanced applications.
Why Contact Belmont Metal About Matrix Metal Composite Applications?
Belmont’s infiltration alloys for matrix metal composites have been continuously used for almost 50 years, almost as long as modern matrix metal composites have even existed. Not only can Belmont supply materials, they can work with manufacturers and researchers to research and develop new ones.
Established in 1896 and located in Brooklyn, NY, Belmont owns state-of-the-art equipment and remains dedicated to its old-fashioned values of service and quality. Contact Belmont today about your specific requirements.