PREPARATION OF BORON FIBER REINFORCED ALUMINUM BY A RESISTANCE SINTERING PROCESS

A mixture of atomized aluminium powder ( - 150 mesh) and boron fiber (200 mu m phi , tensile strength 3200 MPa) was resistance sintered for 1. 2 similar 1. 5s. When a composite was made with an appropriate power input so as not to melt aluminium matrix excessively, a sound fiber-matrix interface without a heavy reaction layer was formed and the mechanical properties were excellent (for example, Al-20 vol%B: 500 MPa).