Applications marines des composites a matrice metallique d'aluminium assembles par collage (MMC)

Metal matrix composites (MMC) offer a unique combination of properties that make this class of material ideally suited to the fabrication of components subjected to complex loads, such as marine structures. In many marine applications the dominant requirement is for a reduction in structural weight, and where failure occurs by elastic buckling stiffness is critical. MMC's encompass a very broad class of materials which may be subdivided into three main groups: particulate, whisker and continuous fibre reinforced metals. These materials offer improvements in stiffness and the strength to weight ratio over conventional alloys. However, the ability to construct efficient marine structures is constrained by the ability to join these materials both to themselves and other materials. This paper will outline the potential use of aluminium matrix composites in marine applications and the use of adhesive bonding technology to enhance their performance.