PURPOSE: To efficiently produce a composite material in which fine pieces of ceramics are uniformly dispersed by throwing a compact consisting of reinforcement, Ni-containing fine metal pieces, and metal fluoride into molten Al and carrying out casting by using this molten metal.
CONSTITUTION: A compact which consists of reinforcement, such as fine ceramic pieces, fine metal pieces containing at least fine pieces of Ni by ≥5vol.%, and metal fluoride in the amount of 0.001-0.02wt.% based on the reinforcement is formed. This compact is thrown into molten Al or Al alloy of ≥800°C. First the compact is wetted by the molten metal, and the fine pieces in the compact are heated by means of the heat of the molten metal. Ni is oxidized by the combination with oxygen in the compact, and heat is generated. The resulting Ni oxide is allowed to react with the molten Al penetrating into the compact and reduced, and simultaneously, Ni is allowed to react with Al to form an Ni-Al intermetallic compound, by which a large amount of heat is generated. The compact is self-decomposed, and the composite material where the fine ceramic pieces are dispersed into the molten metal can be obtained.
SUGANUMA TETSUYA
TANAKA ATSUO
GAKUMI TETSUYA
