SiC–Al–Si composites by rapid pressureless infiltration in air

A rapid, pressureless infiltration technique for fabricating SiC-reinforced Al-Si composites is described. The infiltration can be performed by simply dipping a ceramic preform into a molten alloy in an open air environment. This method makes it possible to produce composites that contain a high volume fraction (80%) of a variety of ceramic reinforcements, including particulates and fibers. This technique has potential for low-cost and versatile production of SiC-Al-Si composites for many industrial applications, such as automobile components and electronic packaging.