Fiber reinforced metal matrix composites - a review

Abstract

Modern technology has placed increasing demands on materials. The need of hour is to develop the new materials so as to overcome the limitations of the materials existed presently regarding applications in different fields. The materials with properties such as better wear resistance, high specific strength and stability at high temperatures have been in great demand in the past few decades. The properties of conventional materials can be improved by the method of reinforcing whiskers, fibers and particles in to polymers, metals and ceramics. This has resulted in the manufacturing of composite materials. The mechanical properties of fiber reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) make them the suitable choice for applications in the fields of automotive and aerospace etc. The paper outlines the overview of fiber reinforced MMCs. The applications, manufacturing methods and mechanical properties of these composites are discussed. Furthermore, this review describes the single fiber push-out test which is developed in the past years so as to measure quantitatively the properties of the interface between the fiber and the matrix in these fiber reinforced MMCs.