Processing of carbon fibers reinforced Mg matrix composites via pre-infiltration with Al

Mg matrix composites appear as suitable competitors to Al alloys for a wide number of applications, as they allow for a significant weight reduction while exhibiting potentially comparable mechanical properties. And a large variety of processing routes have already been considered for their production, including 'liquid state' processes such as squeeze casting. These techniques necessitate a very careful control of the wetting behaviour and of the possible interfacial reactions between the reinforcements and the molten metal, along with the solidification process. And this is more particularly true in the case of Mg matrix composites with carbon fibers reinforcements, as Mg alloys are known to exhibit a poor wetting behaviour on carbon substrates.