Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle

Lionel Picquet

Jean Bouix

Henri Abiven

Jean-Claude Viala

Gilles Claveyrolas

The invention relates to a composite material combining a magnesium alloy containing zirconium with a carbon reinforcement, as well as to its production process. According to the invention, such a composite material is prepared by the infiltration of a reinforcement formed from graphite or carbon fibres by a liquid magnesium alloy containing 0.3 to 1% by weight zirconium at a temperature of 650.degree. to 850.degree. C. Under these conditions, on said fibres is formed a zirconium carbide layer containing magnesium in solid solution and e.g. complying with the formula ZrC.sub.x Mg.sub.y with 0.3&lt;x&lt;1 and 0.02&lt;y&lt;0.12, which leads to the wetting of the fibres by the melted magnesium and to a good adhesion between the fibres and the matrix, without any deterioration to the mechanical characteristics of the fibres.

Process for producing composite material combining a magnesium alloy

According to the present invention, a composite material including a magnesium alloy containing zirconium with a graphite or carbon fiber reinforcement is provided. The material is prepared by infiltration of the reinforcement by a liquid magnesium alloy containing 0.3 to 1% by weight zirconium at a temperature of 650.degree. to 850.degree. C. Under these conditions, a zirconium carbide layer containing magnesium in solid solution is formed on the fibers. This results in wetting of the fibers by melted magnesium and good adhesion between the fibers and the matrix, without any deterioration in the mechanical characteristics of the fibers.

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Albert, France

Lionel Picquet