Metal Matrix Composites

Among all materials, natural or synthetic, metal matrix composites (MMCs) are unique as they provide an opportunity for researchers to design materials targeted at any given end application. Infinite possibilities are available and each MMC design can cater to one or more applications. This allows researchers to be at their most creative to develop new materials. The designs of MMCs depend on many factors, such as the selection of the type of matrix, morphology, amount, and length scale, the type of primary and secondary processing techniques, and so on and so forth. Hence, researchers have to arrive at holistic combinations of these parameters to arrive at the best possible properties for any given composition of a metal matrix composite. Due to the immense capability and potential of MMCs to cater to existing and new engineering as well as biomedical applications, this Section on MMCs is launched to solicit articles from researchers in the following areas (but is not restricted to them):

• Metal matrix composites with different metallic matrices and length scales of different types of reinforcement (metallic, ceramic, amorphous, and hollow) and different length scales (nanometer and beyond) of reinforcements.
• Investigation into various liquid-state, solid-state, and solid–liquid-phase techniques, including additive manufacturing and friction stir processing.
• Secondary processing techniques, such as extrusion, rolling, forging, accumulative roll processing, equal channel angular processing, and its variations.
• Effects of heat treatment on microstructural and mechanical responses.
• Advanced macrostructural and microstructural characterization.
• Engineering properties of MMCs, including tensile, compressional, torsional, bending, damping, fatigue, creep, and tribological responses.
• Machinability of MMCs.
• Joining of MMCs.
• Corrosion responses of MMCs, including dry and wet corrosion.