Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, technologies for the production of composite materials with metal matrices have been developed, both in the field of formation of certain properties of structural or functional purpose, and in the field of production of materials with predictable behavior in the process of exploitation. Such materials, obtained by various methods, can have special characteristics and properties that differ significantly from those of classical structural or composite materials. One of the directions in this area is the tribological adaptation of materials, which allows us to realize, in the process of friction, conditions for formation and recovery in the contact zone of various chemical compounds that reduce the intensity of wear and friction coefficient values. Thus, it is possible to achieve the effect of self-lubrication, self-recovery, and self-healing of materials in friction units, to reduce contact stresses, to achieve record low wear rates, up to the achievement of wear-free phenomena in a certain range of load values or friction speed. Hybrid compositions are actively used in the manufacture of tribological products based on ceramics (ZrB2-SiC), metals and alloys (WC-(Fe-Mn-C)), and their combinations ((WC-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃-Hadfield steel), ZrB₂+SiC+W+WC, ZrB₂+SiC+Mo+WC, TiB₂+SiC+W+W+WC, B₄C+ SiC+W+WC, etc.). The combination of a strong and easily movable or liquid phase under operating conditions makes it possible to initiate the process of tribological adaptation and to maintain it for quite a long time under certain conditions, sometimes associated with extreme strain rates or contact stresses. Thus, in addition to the formation of unique characteristics of materials under different operating conditions, the obtaining of hybrid composites may be necessary to produce devices and mechanisms that operate in the most difficult and extreme operating conditions.

Modern technologies of additive manufacturing and synthesis of materials with homogeneous or heterogeneous structures make it possible to create the required structure and properties of material layers reinforced with different the physical natures of metals, alloys, ceramics, or their combinations directly during the process of forming the product in its various areas. In this case, it is possible to achieve in situ formation of the structure necessary for operational application in each specific area of the sample without excessive costs for production and subsequent operation of the finished product. In addition to this aspect, obtaining in situ hybrid composites is also relevant for extending the capabilities of currently developed methods and using more powerful techniques for manufacturing various functional products. In addition, a number of methods of forming products with composite structures have prospects from the point of view of realization of the process in a solid phase without the melting or sintering of components between each other, which provides the opportunity to use more complex combinations of materials that are not applicable to melting of the material or in conditions of production high temperatures. Such methods include friction stir processing or additive manufacturing. The combination of friction stir processing with various methods of additive manufacturing of products also has a certain efficiency in terms of high dispersion and homogeneity of material after processing. High-performance technologies of wire synthesis of products, which allows repeated reduction of the cost of a product’s manufacture, including those with composite structures, stand out from modern methods of product manufacture. At the same time, it is possible to achieve fine distribution of components, mainly by using technologies based on the melting of metal or alloy powders via laser beam—selective laser melting or direct energy deposition. Thus, at present in the field of composite synthesis technologies, there are, on the one hand, a number of materials that allow the realization of the properties of adaptation and hybrid behavior, and on the other hand, a number of methods characterized by different performance, labor costs, and technological capabilities. On this basis, the aim of this Special Issue is to publish research results on the formation of hybrid composite materials obtained via different modern methods.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

I/We look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Dr. Andrey Chumaevskii
Guest Editor

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• friction stir processing
• additive manufacturing
• modern technologies
• selective laser melting
• electron beam additive manufacturing
• direct energy deposition
• metal matrix composites
• ad-vanced technologies
• aluminum
• nickel
• copper and titanium alloys
• steels
• in situ composites
• hybrid composites