Challenges and recent developments on nano-particle reinforced metal matrix composite

Abstract

The quest for advanced functional materials with superior functionality is being driven in various frontiers of engineering materials. One of such frontier is the research of metal matrix composite (MMC) which has already been proven as one of the most productive field. With the advanced technology, it is possible to reinforce the MMCs with nano-sized particles compared to conventional micron-sized counterparts. However, the addition of nano-particles in the MMC to improve its mechanical properties is not unconditional and there are number of factors that should be taken into consideration. The present chapter gives an overview of such considerations along with recent trends in this field.