US 11,667,996 B2
Aluminum-fiber composites containing intermetallic phase at the matrix-fiber interface
Orlando Rios, Knoxville, TN (US); Michael S. Kesler, Knoxville, TN (US); Zachary C. Sims, Knoxville, TN (US); Edgar Lara-Curzio, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and David Weiss, Manitowoc, WI (US)
Assigned to UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and Eck Industries, Inc., Manitowoc, WI (US)
Filed by UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and Eck Industries, Inc., Manitowoc, WI (US)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/203,881.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/594,792, filed on Dec. 5, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0169725 A1, Jun. 6, 2019
Int. Cl. C22C 49/06 (2006.01); C22C 49/12 (2006.01); C22C 47/12 (2006.01); C22C 47/04 (2006.01); C22C 49/14 (2006.01)
CPC C22C 49/06 (2013.01) [C22C 47/04 (2013.01); C22C 47/12 (2013.01); C22C 49/12 (2013.01); C22C 49/14 (2013.01); Y10T 428/12736 (2015.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solid aluminum-fiber composite comprising:
(i) an aluminum alloy matrix comprising elemental aluminum and a lanthanide, wherein the lanthanide is present in the aluminum alloy matrix in an amount of 2-20 wt %;
(ii) fibers embedded within said aluminum alloy matrix, wherein said fibers have a different composition than said aluminum alloy matrix and impart additional strength to said aluminum alloy matrix as compared to said aluminum alloy matrix in the absence of said fibers embedded therein; and
(iii) an intermetallic layer present as an interface between each of said fibers and the aluminum alloy matrix, wherein said intermetallic layer comprises intermetallic compounds containing aluminum and said lanthanide and has a composition different from said aluminum alloy matrix and said fibers, and wherein the intermetallic layer includes anchoring interfacial precipitates; wherein said aluminum-fiber composite is produced by a process in which the aluminum alloy matrix and fibers are combined and subjected to a pressure of at least 50 bar.