Reactive hot pressing of aluminum matrix composites

A method is described for the production of dense aluminum matrix composites from elemental powders in one processing step by reactive hot pressing (RHP). It encompasses both the exothermic conversion of reactants to composite product and the following hot compaction of the porous composite product. The RHP method described in this paper takes into account the gas evolution accompanying the exothermic process, ensures complete conversion of reactants, and avoids adverse reactions between aluminum matrix and graphite tooling material. In situ sample temperature measurements enable proper process control, in particular the timing of the full densification step of the hot reaction product.