FABRICATION OF METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITE BY INFILTRATION PROCESS .1. MODELING OF HYDRODYNAMIC AND THERMAL-BEHAVIOR

Modeling of hydrodynamic and thermal behavior during fabrication of metal matrix composites by infiltration process is presented. In terms of this model, the governing equations which describe the hydrodynamic and thermal behaviour of a liquid metal squeezed through a column of ceramic particles are solved. As a result, the time required for the liquid metal to penetrate completely throughout the column and the transient temperature distribution within the column are obtained. Also for a complete squeezing process, without freezing of the liquid metal at any location, the model is able to determine the initial melt superheat. The required melt superheat, for complete squeezing, is given as a function of the imposed pressure. It is found that increasing the imposed pressure will reduce the required superheat of the melt.