Abstract
(English)
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Metal matrix composites (MMC) have been a topic of intensive research in materials for about two decades, and have found their way to practical applications such as electronic heat sinks, automotive drive shafts, ground vehicle brake rotors, jet fighter aircraft fins, or explosion engine components. Thus, engineering implementation of these materials is on its way, but has taken significant time, in particular due to the need to transmit knowledge of the existence of these materials, to collect relevant data on their properties, including both physical and mechanical properties as well as their projected cost and recyclability, and to test their performance in service. The aim of this project was to contribute towards accelerating the dissemination of knowledge about this class of materials, with a focus on their practical applications in engineering. The network brings together researchers from industry, applied research institutions and universities with expertise in individual topics related to MMC.
The network has provided a focus for the organisation of inter-European contacts in metal matrix composite research, for the picturing of the worldwide state of the art on MMC, for the assembly of relevant databases and sources of engineering information, for the dissemination of this knowledge, and for the identification of opportunities in future research or development.
The information complied is accessible via the internet (http://mmc-assess.tuwien.ac.at/); the homepage will be filed with information and kept up-to-date beyond the termination of the project.
Particular emphasis has been put on active dissemination of information during the second half of the project duration, which was done by participation in industrial fairs such as Swisstech-Basel, 21-24.11.2000 (booth Swiss-MMC group) and Materialica-München, 25-28.09.2000 & 01-04.10.2001 (booth EMPA & MMC-ASSESS), by participation to conferences such as Materials Day, ETH-Zürich, 18.05.2001 (presentation EMPA) and MMC-VII, Inst. of Mat. London, 26-27.11.2001 (extra session on MMC-ASSESS, booth MMC-ASSESS) and finally by publications intended for a broader readership, particularly potential end-users, for instance in NZZ (Neue Zürcher Zeitung), 12.04.2000, Nr. 87, pp. 77
and MM (Maschinenmarkt) 17.12.2001, Ausgabe 51/52, pp. 48-49.
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