Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A composite material, consisting essentially of: (a) a reinforcing material which is a hybrid fiber mixture material consisting essentially of: (a1) an effective amount of a reinforcing alumina fiber material with the principal components being at least about 80% by weight of Al 2 O 3 and the remainder substantially SiO 2 ; and (a2) an effective amount of a reinforcing mineral fiber material having as the principal components SiO 2 , CaO, and Al 2 O 3 , the content of included MgO therein being less than or equal to about 10% by weight, the content of included Fe 2 O 3 therein being less than or equal to about 5% by weight, and the content of other inorganic substances included therein being less than or equal to about 10% by weight, with the percentage of non-fibrous particles included therein being less than or equal to about 20% by weight, and with the percentage of non-fibrous particles with diameters greater than about 150 microns included therein being less than or equal to about 7% by weight; and (b) a matrix metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc, lead, tin, and alloys having these metals as principal components; and wherein the volume proportion of said hybrid fiber mixture material in said composite material is at least 1%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A composite material, consisting essentially of: (a) a reinforcing material which is a hybrid fiber mixture material consisting essentially of: (a1) an effective amount of a reinforcing alumina fiber material with the principal components being at least about 80% by weight of Al 2 O 3 and the remainder substantially SiO 2 ; and (a2) an effective amount of a reinforcing mineral fiber material having as the principal components SiO 2 , CaO, and Al 2 O 3 , the content of included MgO therein being less than or equal to about 10% by weight, the content of included Fe 2 O 3 therein being less than or equal to about 5% by weight, and the content of other inorganic substances included therein being less than or equal to about 10% by weight, with the percentage of non-fibrous particles included therein being less than or equal to about 20% by weight, and with the percentage of non-fibrous particles with diameters greater than about 150 microns included therein being less than or equal to about 7% by weight; and (b) a matrix metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc, lead, tin, and alloys having these metals as principal components; and wherein the volume proportion of said hybrid fiber mixture material in said composite material is at least 1%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the alpha alumina content by weight of said alumina fiber material is between about 5% and about 60%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the volume proportion of said alumina fiber material to the total volume proportion of said hybrid fiber mixture material is between about 5% and about 80%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The composite material according to claim 2, wherein the ratio of the volume proportion of said alumina fiber material to the total volume proportion of said hybrid fiber mixture material is between about 5% and about 40%, and the total volume proportion of said hybrid fiber mixture material is between about 2% and about 40%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the volume proportion of said mineral fiber material in said composite material is less than or equal to about 25%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the total proportion of non fibrous particles included in said mineral fiber material is less than or equal to about 10% by weight, and the proportion of non fibrous particles with diameters greater than about 150 microns included in said mineral fiber material is less than or equal to about 2% by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the alpha alumina content by weight of said alumina fiber material is between about 10% and about 50%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein, in said hybrid fiber mixture material, said alumina fiber material and said mineral fiber material are substantially evenly mixed together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said matrix metalis an aluminum alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said matrix metal is a magnesium alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said matrix metal is a zinc alloy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said matrix metal is lead.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said matrix metal is a tin alloy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said alumina fibers are short fibers having an average fiber diameter of approximately 1.5 to 5.0 microns and a fiber length of 20 microns to 3 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said alumina fibers are long fibers having an average fiber diameter of approximately 3 to 30 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The composite material according to claim 1, wherein said mineral fibers are in the form of short fibers with a fiber diameter of about 1 to 10 microns and with a fiber length of about 10 microns to about 10 cm.