Composite metallic preform tape

Abstract

A composite metallic preform tape for use as laminae in the manufacture of metallic composite articles is made from a pair of metallic foils and high strength, high modulus filaments aligned between the foils. One form of the method involves first coating either the foil inner surfaces or the filament outer surfaces, or both, with a thin, non-metallic adhesive bonding material which will decompose leaving substantially no residue upon heating at a temperature below that at which the foil and filaments will melt, and preferably below that at which they will bond together. The foil and the aligned filaments are themselves aligned and, in a continuous form of the method, are moved at substantially the same rate and in the same direction so that the coated surface is between the foil and filaments. At the same time, the foil and filaments are pressed toward one another with a force sufficient to adhesively bond together the foil and filaments and to plastically deform the foil around at least a portion of substantially each filament. In a preferred form, at least one plastically deformable, strippable outer film is applied for protection and, if desired, for a quality control record. Deformation of the foils around at least a portion of substantially each filament results in an article having a sandwich construction including centrally aligned filaments maintained in spaced apart relationship.