RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE FABRICATION OF METAL MATRIX-PARTICULATE COMPOSITES USING POWDER-METALLURGY TECHNIQUES

It is advantageous to fabricate metal matrix-particulate composites (MMPCs) using powder metallurgy (PM) because the fabricated composites possess a higher dislocation density, a small sub-grain size and limited segregation of particles, which, when combined, result in superior mechanical properties. The various PM-related processes currently in use in the fabrication of MMPCs, are reviewed, outlining the common problems encountered in each of these fabrication processes. The more recently developed PM techniques to fabricate MMPCs are also discussed.