| Metal Matrix Composites Based on Powders of Shape Memory Alloys | ||
| Dr. Gabriel Lopez1, M. L. No1, Mr. J. San Juan2, M. Barrado2 and E.H. Bocanegra3, 1Department of Applied Physics II, University of the Basque Country, Faculty of Science and Technology, Leioa, 48940, Spain, 2Dpt. Física Materia Condensada, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao, 644 – 48080, Spain, 3Applied Physics II, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, 48080, Spain
When designing materials for structural damping applications, the parameter which should be optimized is the product of the stiffness times the damping coefficient, E•tan(f). So metallic materials with high damping coefficient could exhibit higher performance than polymeric materials. A new kind of Metal Matrix Composites has been developed for high damping applications. These composites are based on a high percentage pre-form of powders of Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloys (SMA), infiltrated by a soft metallic matrix. In this paper we describe the processing method to elaborate these materials, as well as their microstructure. We have used several metallic matrixes, in order to optimize the mechanical behaviour by controlling the interface between the matrix and the SMA powders. Besides, we discuss the influence of the thermal treatments on the interface microstructure and on the thermo-elastic martensitic transformation responsible for the high-damping behaviour. | ||