Metal-Ceramic Composite Material, Method for Its Production, Its Use, and Energy Absorption Component

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This invention relates to composite materials made from a combination of metal and ceramic components, where at least one of the components (metallic or ceramic) can undergo a solid-state phase transformation resulting in a change in volume. The manufacturing methods involve infiltrating a porous ceramic preform with molten metal or producing a composite through powder mixing and sintering. The resulting materials exhibit significantly improved mechanical properties, such as high strength, toughness, and energy absorption, with a relatively low density, making them especially suitable for use as energy-absorbing components in safety-critical and mechanically demanding applications.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Automotive crash structures such as bumper beams or crumple zones, where high energy absorption is required during collisions.
• Structural stiffening components in vehicles, aircraft, or rail transport to improve crash safety and rigidity.
• Wear-resistant and strength-critical parts for machines and industrial equipment exposed to significant mechanical stress.
• Lightweight chassis components for transportation, providing strength while reducing overall weight.
• Components in defense or aerospace requiring non-flammable, thermally stable, and corrosion-resistant performance under impact or stress.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Superior combination of strength and toughness compared to traditional ceramics or metals alone.
• Excellent energy absorption capability, making the material ideal for crash or impact applications.
• Reduced density provides lightweight yet robust components, beneficial for transportation industries seeking weight savings.
• Good non-flammability, thermal stability, and corrosion resistance, enhancing safety and durability.
• Versatile manufacturing methods allow adaptation to various shapes and geometries (foams, honeycombs, spheres, spaghetti structures).
• Strong interfacial bonding between metal and ceramic phases due to in situ spinel formation, enhancing reliability and performance.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to composite materials made of metal and ceramic, and production methods thereof, which can be used in areas where materials with high mechanical stresses are appropriate According to the invention, the composite material consists of at least one metallic and at least one ceramic material, at least one metallic and/or ceramic material consisting of a material which is capable of a change of volume via a phase transformation in the solid state. The composite material is produced by infiltration of a porous green or fired ceramic-shaped body with a molten melt, or by a shaping method from at least one ceramic and/or metallic material with subsequent sintering, wherein at least one metallic and/or ceramic component consists of a material which is capable of a change of volume via a phase transformation in the solid state. The inventive composite materials are characterized by an excellent strength and toughness with simultaneous large energy absorption capability and reduced density, and are suitable in particular for energy absorption components, crash-stressed components and stiffening structural components, chassis components, and high-strength and wear-resistant components.