Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/L80553/01
Title:	NOVEL MMC MICROSTRUCTURES PRODUCED BY SQUEEZE CASTING POROUS CERAMIC PREFORMS
Principal Investigator:	Fan, Professor Z
Other Investigators:	Evans, Professor JRG Folkes, Professor M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Materials Engineering
Organisation:	Brunel University London
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	19 January 1998	Ends:	18 January 2001	Value (£):	152,197
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The current research activities on processing of particular MMC's are mainly focused on the production of a homogeneous distribution of reinforcing phase in the matrix, which is believed to be beneficial to the damage related properties. However, according to the theoretical predictions based on our microstructural model, there are good reasons to believe that a tailored inhomogeneous microstructure will be more effective for the overall property improvement. The global objective of this research programme is to manufacture net-shaped MMC components with a tailored inhomogeneous microstructure by squeeze casting engineered porous ceramic preforms. this program includes: (1) development of reliable techniques for production of strong porous ceramic preforms which have a varying degree of reticulation and are suitable for melt infiltration; (2) optimisation of squeeze casting parameters to produce desired MMC microstructure from these ceramic preforms; (3) evaluation of microstructure and mechanical properties of both porous ceramic preforms and MMC's as a function of processing parameters; (4) assessment of the effect of the distribution of the reinforcing phase in the matrix on the properties of the MMCs. This project is part of a larger initiative at Brunel University to develop novel MMC microstructures by melt infiltration of engineered ceramic preforms.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.brunel.ac.uk