3m Innovative Properties Company

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Andreas Mortensen

Colin McCullough

Paul S Werner

Tracy L Anderson

Herve E Deve

Merton C Flemings

James A Cornie

Eric M Klier

David C Dunand

Richard M Andrews

Sjur Vidar Velken

Herve&prime; E D&egrave;ve

Donald R Gorsuch

Christopher K Knapp

Thomas J Fitzgerald

Composite wire comprising polycrystalline &agr;-Al O fibers within a matrix of aluminum, or an alloy of aluminum and up to about 2% copper. The resulting materials are characterized by their high strength and low weight are particularly well suited for applications in various industries including high voltage power transmission.

Fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composite wire

Method of making articles comprising polycrystalline &agr;-Al O fibers within a matrix of aluminum, or an alloy of aluminum and up to about 2% copper.

Method of making fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composite

A composite metal matrix formed of polycrystalline &agr;-Al O fibers encapsulated within a matrix of substantially pure elemental aluminum, or an alloy elemental aluminum and up to about 2% copper is disclosed. The resulting materials are characterized by their high strength and low weight are particularly well suited for applications in various industries including high voltage power transmission.

Fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composite

Method of making wire comprising polycrystalline &agr;-Al O fibers within a matrix of substantially pure elemental aluminum, or an alloy elemental aluminum and up to about 2% copper.

Method of making fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composite wire

Wire comprising polycrystalline &agr;-Al,O,fibers within a matrix of substantially pure elemental aluminum, or an alloy elemental aluminum and up to about 2% copper.

Overhead high power transmission cable comprising a plurality of wires comprising polycrystalline &agr;-Al,O,fibers within a matrix of substantially pure elemental aluminum, or an alloy elemental aluminum and up to about 2% copper.

Overhead high power transmission cable comprising fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composite wire

Method for producing metal matrix composites. The method includes the steps of placing a substantially liquid metal in the vicinity of a reinforcement material and in the vicinity of the source of a transient magnetic field sufficient to produce an electromagnetic body force within the metal. The magnetic field is activated thereby propelling the substantially liquid metal into the reinforcement material thereby producing metal matrix composites.

Method for producing metal matrix composites using electromagnetic body

The invention provides a method for producing a microcellular foam of a curable material by replicating a dissolvable particle preform and leaching away the dissolvable particle preform to yield the microcellular foam. The foam can be a preceramic polymer microcellular foam which can be pyrolyzed to form a ceramic microcellular foam. A method for making a composite including steps of producing a ceramic microcellular foam which is subsequently infiltrated to form the composite is also provided as are microcellular foams, ceramic microcellular foams and composites prepared according to the method of the invention.

Method for producing a microcellular foam

Composites of materials in which the matrix material does not spontaneously or readily wet the disperse phase and in which the volume fraction of the disperse phase is less than that formed in a packed bed of dispersate particles can be made effectively by an indirect method of infiltrating a packed bed of dispersate particles, using pressure or other mechanical force as needed to overcome poor wetting and form an intermediate concentrated composite. The concentrated composite is then mixed with additional matrix-forming material to produce the finally desired composite. The technique is particularly valuable for composites with ceramic dispersates and metal or alloy matrixes.

Composites and method therefor

A method for producing an article including a refractory compound by infiltrating a preform with a liquid infiltrant and initiating a reaction between the preform and the liquid infiltrant to establish a reaction front which propagates in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the liquid infiltrant is provided, as are articles prepared according to this method.

Method for producing articles by reactive infiltration

The continuous manufacture of a composite in which dispersates are mixed within a matrix material is set forth. Molten metal alloy and concentrated dispersion containing a particulate ceramic dispersate in a precurser dispersion material are continuously fed into a chamber where the mixture is first blended, then agitated to shear both the particulate and matrix. Well dispersed slurry is then fed into a crucible for solidification processing, or is continuously cast into a billet.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Andreas Mortensen