Production of composite metallic articles

Claim 2

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the coating is metal.

Claim 3

A process in accordance with claim 3 in which the coating is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, iron, zinc, cobalt, aluminum and alloys thereof.

Claim 4

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the constituent is selected from the group consisting of graphite, oxides, carbides, nitrides and borides.

Claim 5

A process in accordance with claim 3 in which the constituent is selected from the group consisting of graphite, oxides, carbides, nitrides and borides.

Claim 6

A process in accordance with claim 6 in which at least graphite is present.

Claim 7

A process in accordance with claim 6 in which the constituent is selected from silica, silicon carbide and alumina.

Claim 8

A process in accordance with claim 7 in which the coating is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and iron.

Claim 9

A process in accordance with claim 9 in which the matrix is aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Claim 10

A process in accordance with claim 10 in which the coating is nickel.

Claim 11

A process in accordance with claim 8 in which the coating is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, iron and zinc.

Claim 12

A process in accordance with claim 8 in which tHe matrix metal is from the group of aluminum, aluminum alloys, zinc and zinc alloys.

Claim 13

A process in accordance with claim 13 in which the coating is nickel.

Claim 14

A process in accordance with claim 7 in which a piston is cast, the matrix metal being aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Claim 15

A process in accordance with claim 15 in which the coating used is from the group of nickel, copper, iron and zinc.

Claim 16

A process in accordance with claim 25 in which the article is a sliding contact element.

Claim 17

A process in accordance with claim 17 in which the sliding contact element is a bearing.

Claim 18

A process for producing a solid composite metal product composed of at least one dispersoid constituent distributed therein which is virtually insoluble in a molten bath of the metal, which comprises forming a melt of the matrix metal, supplying energy to the molten bath such that the molten metal is caused to rotate at a speed sufficient to induce therein a vortex, subjecting particles of the insoluble dispersoid to the action of the rotational effects of the vortex, the surfaces of the particles being substantially encapsulated by a coating possessing the capability of imparting a condition of wettability between the particles and the molten metal, maintaining the vortex such that the particles are drawn into and dispersed within the body of the molten bath, and thereafter solidifying at least a portion of the molten metal.

Claim 19

A process in accordance with claim 19 in which the energy supplied is sufficient to overcome the surface tension at the melt surface.

Claim 20

A process in accordance with claim 20 in which the coating is metal.

Claim 21

A process in accordance with claim 21 in which the metal coating is incapable of readily forming a substantial solid solution with the base metal.

Claim 22

A process in accordance with claim 21 in which the base metal is capable of reducing the surface of the coating when in the form of an oxide.

Claim 23

A process in accordance with claim 21 in which the metal coated dispersoid particles are substantially protected by a protective atmosphere during the introduction thereof into the bath.

Claim 24

A process for producing a solid composite metal product member selected from the group consisting of a sliding contact element, a non-skid device, a friction generating device, a friction drive component and an abrasion resistant article, which comprises forming a matrix of molten metal, supplying energy from an external power source to the molten bath such that the bath is caused to rotate at a speed sufficient to overcome the surface tension of the melt and to induce a visible vortex therein, introducing into the molten bath particles of at least one constituent virtually insoluble in the molten metal, the said insoluble constituent particles being subjected to the action of the rotational effects of the vortex and being further characterized in that they are substantially encapsulated by a metal coating possessing the capability of imparting a condition of wettability between the particles and the molten metal, maintaining the vortex until the particles are introduced into and dispersed within the body of the molten bath, solidifying the molten metal into a composite body and then forming the solid composite into the metal product member desired.