Spirit AeroSystems. has been granted a patent for a method of manufacturing metal matrix composite (MMC) parts. The process involves applying a metallic sheath around MMC laminates, heating them to a fusing temperature, and then cooling the resulting fused part, utilizing electroless nickel or cobalt matrices. GlobalData’s report on Spirit AeroSystems gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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Method for manufacturing metal matrix composite parts
The patent US12017297B2 outlines a method for manufacturing metal matrix composite (MMC) parts, focusing on the consolidation of MMC laminates or plies into a single fused component. The process begins with the application of a metallic sheath around a bundle of MMC laminates, which are composed of reinforcement fibers coated with an electroless nickel or cobalt matrix. The bundle is then heated under pressure at a fusing temperature that exceeds the solidus temperature of the nickel or cobalt matrix but remains below that of the metallic sheath. This heating process facilitates the metallurgical bonding of the laminates, followed by cooling to form a solid part. The method also includes steps for preparing the reinforcement fibers, such as removing surface contaminants and sizing, and various plating techniques to ensure complete encapsulation of the fibers.
Further claims detail the specific materials and conditions involved in the manufacturing process. The reinforcement fibers can include a variety of materials, such as carbon, boron, and ceramic fibers, and the plating can be achieved through methods like autocatalytic or electroplating. The patent specifies that the fusing temperature should range between 1,800 to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit, with the metallic sheath having a melting point of at least 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional steps may involve the use of sacrificial foils or release agents to prevent bonding between the MMC laminates and the sheath, as well as shaping the fused part while still enclosed in the sheath. Overall, the patent presents a comprehensive method for producing high-performance MMC parts through controlled heating and consolidation techniques.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
