A method of metal matrix composites processing consists of injecting a liquid metal through a fibrous preform. The metal flow through the porous preform is associated with phasechange phenomena which imply modifications of the porous medium permeability and disturb the metal flow. A finite-volume model was developed to simulate the injection of a pure metal through a fibrous preform placed between two plane walls of a metal mold. This model is based on the simultaneous resolutions of the heat equation, Darcy's law, and an advection equation to follow the evolution of the metal front geometry during the infiltration.
The infiltration process is one of the techniques employed to work out polymer matrix composites (PMC) or metal matrix composites (MMC) and with continuous reinforcement. It consists in injecting the liquid (resin or metal) through a fibrous reinforcement placed in a mould. In the case of the MMC, the fibres and the mould are initially preheated at temperatures lower than the temperature of metal solidification. These thermal conditions induce phenomena of phase change of metal when the metal is in contact with the fibres. These phenomena disturb the flow of metal through the fibrous network. In order to follow the displacement of metal in the preform and take into account of the phase change, a two-dimensional numerical model based on a finite volume formulation was developed, on a very simple geometry.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.