Metal Matrix Cast Composites

About Metal Matrix Cast Composites

Metal Matrix Cast Composites (dba Mmcc) is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Ultra-High Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Expansion Matched, Low Density Materials for Dimensionally Stable Space Structures. The abstract given for this project is as follows: Ultra high thermal conductivity low-cost materials with thermal expansion matched to electronic devices, actuators and thermal electric cooling systems are proposed. These passive materials enable other technologies but provide for the thermal leveling required for advanced optics and sensing systems. Aluminum alloys reinforced with natural graphite platelets have demonstrated engineered thermal expansion over the range of 9 ppm/K to 4 ppm/k while exhibiting thermal conductivity values of 600 to 800 W/mK respectively. Thus, the CTE can be precisely matched to any known TEC device or semiconductor/laser diode array, LED array. Further, using local hot spot remediation, the CTE at mounting pads can be exactly matched to the device where multiple device types are proposed or required. This permits maximum heat spreading while providing for local CTE matched heat sinking. Other features of the AlGrp materials includes the flexibility during processing which permits the thermal plane to be contorted into complex geometries, around corners, and to be incorporated into hybridized structural shapes. The proposed research will characterize the component materials, demonstrate hot spot remediation and provide thermal/mechanical models that will enable the design of Phase II demonstration components. A subcomponent will be developed, thermally modeled and mapped. BENEFIT: Passive methods for thermal management and thermal leveling will result from the research. These passive methods will enable and enhance the effectiveness of active methods such as TEC and vapor chambers. Low cost CTE matched materials with ultra-high thermal conductivity will become available for the aerospace and defense electronics thermal management industry. This technology will also enable the replacement of high density/heavy, high cost Mo/Cu heat sinks used for hybrid electric automobiles as well as other commercial applications.Metal Matrix Cast Composites (dba Mmcc) is a company that received a Department of Defense SBIR/STTR grant for a project entitled: Pressure Infiltration Casting, Lamination Theory Prediction and Mechanical Property Evaluation of High Performance Continuously Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites. The abstract given for this project is as follows: Pressure infiltration casting technology will used to develop low density continuous fiber reinforced structural metal matrix composites in the form of tubes and plates. Three different reinforcement systems will be investigated with the idea of producing a spectrum of choices for a wide range of structural applications. Nextel 610 alumina fiber will be used to reinforce Al alloy 2024, a 125 msi pitch derived graphite fiber will be used to reinforce a high purity version of Al 413 and that same alloy will be reinforced with high strength PAN derived T650/42 carbon fiber. Filament winding technology will be used to produce the various candidate preform architectures required for evaluation. Lamination theory will be used to predict properties with three composite systems. Mechanical properties will be measured to verify and modify the input data into the lamination theory software to improve its ability to predict actual properties. In addition to a preliminary design database, the technology will be demonstrated on the production of mechanical evaluation plates and demonstration 30 and 60 mm diameter by 300 mm long tubes with a quasi-isotropic architecture.