MMCs (metal-matrix composites) offer a number of potential benefits to the aerospace industry, and these have led to important applications on systems such as the Space Shuttle Orbiter, the Hubble Space Telescope, and communication satellites. However, even after decades of development, MMCs have not seen widespread use. Several technical challenges remain to their successful insertion into a variety of space applications. This article attempts to provide an overview of these challenges and pathways to resolving them. Material-property requirements for space applications include high specific strength and stiffness, a minimum toughness or elongation, fatigue life, environmental compatibility and often, a maximum operating temperature. Both continuous fiber and particulate-reinforced MMCs have unique traits that present new challenges in design, manufacturing and costs. Acceptance of MMCs must overcome the perceived limitation of low toughness either through increasing the ductility of particulate-reinforced MMCs or justifying design rules similar to other brittle materials already in use. New technologies in production of MMCs such as rapid prototyping and manufacturing reduce time and cost in fabrication. Other methods are direct fabrication of full dense particulate-reinforced materials using laser-based powder deposition or a continuous casting process which produces a continuous-fiber-reinforces aluminium wire. Important programs for the development, validation and insertion of MMCs, such as the integrated high payoff rocket propulsion technologies program, are underway.
Challenges to developing and producing MMCs for space applications
Herausforderungen bei der Entwicklung und Produktion von Metallmatrix-Verbundwerkstoffen zur Anwendung in der Raumfahrt
JOM - The Journal of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society ; 53 , 4 ; 22-25
2001
4 Seiten, 3 Bilder, 15 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
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