Metal Matrix Material Based On Shape-Memory Alloy Powders, Production Method Thereof and Use of Same

Abstract

The invention relates to a metal matrix material based on shape-memory alloy powders, to the production method thereof and to the use of same. More specifically, the invention relates to a metal matrix material which is characterised in that it is based on particles of shape-memory alloy powder, having a base of copper at a concentration of between 45 vol.-% and 70 vol.-% in relation to the total volume of the material, said powder particles being supported by a metal matrix. The invention also relates to a method of producing the aforementioned material and to the use of same for absorbing vibrations, particularly acoustic and mechanical vibrations.

1 . A metal matrix composite material which is based on particles of shape-memory alloy powder, having a copper base with a concentration of between 45% and 70% by volume in relation to the total volume of the material, said powder particles being supported by a metal matrix. 
   
   
       2 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1 , which comprises a copper base with a concentration of between 50% and 60% by volume in relation to the total volume of the composite material. 
   
   
       3 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1  which displays a thermoelastic martensitic transformation at between −150° C. and +250° C. 
   
   
       4 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1  wherein the copper base is selected from among Cu—Al—Ni, Cu—Zn—Al and Cu—Al—Mn. 
   
   
       5 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal matrix comprises:
 metals of melting point below 330° C. or   alloys of said metals with a solidifying point below 330° C.   
   
   
       6 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 5 , wherein the metal comprises metals selected from In, Sn, Pb, Cd, Tl and their alloys. 
   
   
       7 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1  wherein the metal matrix is selected from among:
 one or more metals of melting point above 330° C.,   
     or
 alloys of said metals. 
 
   
   
       8 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 7 , wherein said metals are Zn or Mg. 
   
   
       9 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape-memory alloy powder particles all possess the same concentration of copper base. 
   
   
       10 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1 , which comprises a percentage of particles of different concentrations of base copper. 
   
   
       11 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1 , which comprises a percentage of particles of different composition. 
   
   
       12 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 11 , wherein said percentage of powder particles of a different nature is less than or equal to 15% in relation to the total volume of composite material. 
   
   
       13 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 11  wherein the powder particles of different composition are selected from rigid, metallic or ceramic particles. 
   
   
       14 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 13 , wherein said powder particles of different composition are selected from rhenium, tungsten, molybdenum, silicon carbide and boron carbide. 
   
   
       15 . A metal matrix composite material according to  claim 1 , which comprises:
 60% of alloy powder particles of Cu—Al—Ni in relation to the weight of material, with a concentration by weight of 13.1% Al, 3.1% Ni, 83.8% Cu,   40% by weight of an indium matrix.   
   
   
       16 . A method for obtaining a composite material defined in  claim 1  which comprises:
 preparing the shape-memory alloy powder particles, and   infiltrating the metal matrix.   
   
   
       17 . A method for obtaining a composite material according to  claim 16 , which comprises adjusting the temperature range of the damping maximum of the composite material via the direct or inverse martensite transformation temperatures of the powder particles, varying the composition of the constituent elements of the shape-memory alloy. 
   
   
       18 . A method for obtaining a composite material according to  claim 16 , which comprises including in the composite material particles of different concentrations of copper base. 
   
   
       19 . A method for obtaining a composite material according to  claim 18 , wherein the particles of different concentrations of copper base are included in the composite material by means of heat treatment. 
   
   
       20 . A method for obtaining a composite material according to  claim 18 , which comprises including particles with a concentration gradient of copper base in the composite material by means of mechanical alloying. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 16 , for obtaining a composite material defined in  claim 5  which comprises:
 preparing copper base powder particles,   introducing said particles into a mould,   degasifying in vacuo, preferably at a temperature of between 120° C. and 300° C., and   injecting the molten metal of the matrix by means of infiltration in vacuo.   
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the infiltration is carried out under pressure which can be achieved by means of centrifugation or by means of applying gas pressure to the melt. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 16 , for obtaining a composite material defined in  claim 7  which comprises:
 mixing the shape-memory alloy powder particles with powders of the metal or alloy of the matrix,   degasifying in vacuo,   and compacting.   
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the compaction is carried out by means of sinterisation with uniaxial stressing at a temperature below 300° C. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the compaction is carried out by means of previous encapsulating in vacuo and subsequent isostatic compacting at high pressure at a temperature below 300° C. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 23 , which comprises:
 preparing copper base powder particles,   introducing said particles into a mould,   degasifying in vacuo,   heating to above the temperature of the eutectoid of the corresponding SMA, such that the particles are in the high temperature phase, known as beta, proper to these alloys,   infiltrating the metal matrix at high temperature, and   tempering the composite material in a rapid cooling medium.   
   
   
       27 . Method for absorption of vibrations which comprises use of the composite material defined in  claim 1  therefor. 
   
   
       28 . Method according to  claim 27 , wherein the vibrations are selected from among acoustic and mechanical vibrations.