METHOD OF FABRICATING FIBER REINFORCED METAL TUBES

Abstract

A method is provided for fabricating a fiber reinforced metal tube. A first, thin walled metal tube, such as a copper tube, is wrapped with layers of reinforcing fibers, such as copper coated graphite fibers. Layers of fibers aligned in the longitudinal direction of the tube, for example, may be alternated with layers of fibers aligned in the circumferential direction. The fiber wrapped tube is inserted into a second, thick walled metal tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the fiber wrapped tube. A vacuum may be formed in the fiber wrapped region between the two metal tubes. The fiber wrapped inner tube is then expanded radially against the inside of the thick walled tube with hot isostatic pressure to consolidate the reinforcing fibers into the metal, thereby forming the fiber reinforced metal tube.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1MURRAY W. MAHONEY