Additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites

Although Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are superior to most sought-after metallic alloys, their challenging fabricability has limited their widespread use in bulk-form applications. Among the many advanced fabrication techniques, Additive Manufacturing (AM), owing to its unique capabilities to prod...

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Main Authors: Mohan Sai Kiran Kumar Yadav Nartu, Priyanshi Agrawal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525000292
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author Mohan Sai Kiran Kumar Yadav Nartu
Priyanshi Agrawal
author_facet Mohan Sai Kiran Kumar Yadav Nartu
Priyanshi Agrawal
author_sort Mohan Sai Kiran Kumar Yadav Nartu
collection DOAJ
description Although Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are superior to most sought-after metallic alloys, their challenging fabricability has limited their widespread use in bulk-form applications. Among the many advanced fabrication techniques, Additive Manufacturing (AM), owing to its unique capabilities to produce near-net shapes, has drawn significant traction in the past two decades, especially for materials that are difficult to process using traditional methods. However, unlike pure metal/alloy systems, MMCs are highly sensitive to the processing conditions prevailing in AM techniques due to factors such as the high melting point of reinforcement particles and the potential for in-situ reactions. Therefore, it may be a while before metal matrix composites are commercially produced via AM. This review will discuss the current state-of-the-art design, fabricability, and performance of various additively manufactured Metal matrix composites (AMMCs). A particular focus will be on microstructural evolution and microstructure-property relationships. The most employed AM techniques, such as directed energy deposition, powder bed fusion, binder jetting, sheet lamination, and solid-state friction stir processing, are fundamentally different in terms of thermo-kinetics, forming the perspective for this review. A detailed comparison of microstructural evolution and process parameter optimization, including feedstock preparation methods and the role of machine learning and modeling among the different AM processes, is also presented. Finally, a critical evaluation of emerging AM technologies for MMCs is also provided, highlighting their potential advantages and challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-e59a91b38ee04355baadbdb057b0f5082025-08-20T02:50:56ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-04-0125211360910.1016/j.matdes.2025.113609Additive manufacturing of metal matrix compositesMohan Sai Kiran Kumar Yadav Nartu0Priyanshi Agrawal1Nuclear Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA; Corresponding authors.Nuclear Science and Technology Division, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83410, USA; Corresponding authors.Although Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are superior to most sought-after metallic alloys, their challenging fabricability has limited their widespread use in bulk-form applications. Among the many advanced fabrication techniques, Additive Manufacturing (AM), owing to its unique capabilities to produce near-net shapes, has drawn significant traction in the past two decades, especially for materials that are difficult to process using traditional methods. However, unlike pure metal/alloy systems, MMCs are highly sensitive to the processing conditions prevailing in AM techniques due to factors such as the high melting point of reinforcement particles and the potential for in-situ reactions. Therefore, it may be a while before metal matrix composites are commercially produced via AM. This review will discuss the current state-of-the-art design, fabricability, and performance of various additively manufactured Metal matrix composites (AMMCs). A particular focus will be on microstructural evolution and microstructure-property relationships. The most employed AM techniques, such as directed energy deposition, powder bed fusion, binder jetting, sheet lamination, and solid-state friction stir processing, are fundamentally different in terms of thermo-kinetics, forming the perspective for this review. A detailed comparison of microstructural evolution and process parameter optimization, including feedstock preparation methods and the role of machine learning and modeling among the different AM processes, is also presented. Finally, a critical evaluation of emerging AM technologies for MMCs is also provided, highlighting their potential advantages and challenges.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525000292Microstructural evolutionIn-situ reinforcementsPropertiesMetal matrix compositesSustainabilityAdditive manufacturing
spellingShingle Mohan Sai Kiran Kumar Yadav Nartu
Priyanshi Agrawal
Additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites
Materials & Design
Microstructural evolution
In-situ reinforcements
Properties
Metal matrix composites
Sustainability
Additive manufacturing
title Additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites
title_full Additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites
title_fullStr Additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites
title_full_unstemmed Additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites
title_short Additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites
title_sort additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites
topic Microstructural evolution
In-situ reinforcements
Properties
Metal matrix composites
Sustainability
Additive manufacturing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525000292
work_keys_str_mv AT mohansaikirankumaryadavnartu additivemanufacturingofmetalmatrixcomposites
AT priyanshiagrawal additivemanufacturingofmetalmatrixcomposites