Fluidized Bed Coated Powders

Powder Tech's technique facilitates the creation of a structural, metal matrix composite with previously unsurpassed strength-to-density ratios at elevated operating temperatures, and may be the single most important find to traditional powder metallurgy ever. This technique involves the coating of SiC powders with aluminum matrices by a computer controlled fluidized bed CVD process followed by their subsequent consolidation. Such composites can replace titanium for high temperature applications up to 900 F. This process is not limited SiC/Al and depending on the starting and deposited materials, the use temperature can be greatly increased and tailored to most environments. Implications of this work include stabilized ceramics, structural ceramics with room temperature ductility, particulate reinforced composites for high temperature engine and airframe components, kinetic armor penetrators, etc.