Metal Matrix Feedstock for Additive Manufacturing

Triton Systems Inc. will develop a Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) Feedstock tape for US Army applications that uses a unique manufacturing approach to address current drawbacks associated with available feedstock materials. Our team has significant product development and technical expertise to accomplish the objectives to show how this new approach will benefit a wide range of MMC applications. We are proposing a 6-month Phase 1 effort that will demonstrate important feasibility concepts, and a 4-month option that will optimize the results of the base program and outline a plan for scale up and prototype manufacturing in follow up programs. Our approach for making this feedstock material is based on principles that our team has developed for other applications. We will target a fiber volume greater than 50% and a tape thickness on the order of 0.010” and a width of 0.25" to 0.5". Our composite structure will include continuous aluminum oxide fibers and an aluminum matrix. The improvements by making MMC feedstock using our approach will be validated during the effort through characterization of several performance factors including demonstration of good adhesion between the fibers and matrix, and measurement of mechanical properties of the feedstock.