Continuous production of metal alloy composites

Claim 1

A continuous process for the production of a shaped composite of an aluminum alloy and a particulate solid other than an aluminum alloy comprising metering into a mixing station, at a substantially constant ratio by weight, the particulate solid in uncoated form and molten aluminum alloy containing at least 0.10% by weight of magnesium while said aluminum alloy and particulate solid are continuously vigorously agitated at a shear rate sufficient to produce a homogeneous mixture of molten aluminum alloy and particulate solid, simultaneously with said metering step continuously discharging a homogeneous mixture of molten aluminum alloy and particulate solid into a holding station, said mixture being continuously agitated in said holding station while the temperature of the alloy is maintained above the liquidus temperature, said agitation being at a shear rate of at least 200 sec. 1 and being sufficient to maintain the mixture homogeneous and to substantially prevent chemical reaction between the alloy and said particulate solid, tranversing said molten aluminum alloy-particulate mixture while still homogeneous to a forming station and shaping and solidifying said aluminum alloy-particulate composite at said forming station into a shaped part containing a particulate solid uniformly dispersed therein.