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A discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composite wherein the reinforcing material is a particulate binary intermetallic compound is described along with methods for preparing the same. The binary intermetallic compound includes the same type of metal as is the principal matrix metal in combinatio

A discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composite wherein the reinforcing material is a particulate binary intermetallic compound is described along with methods for preparing the same. The binary intermetallic compound includes the same type of metal as is the principal matrix metal in combination with one other metal. The particle size of the particulate binary intermetallic compound may be less than about 20 μm and may be between about 1 μm and about 10 μm. The intermetallic particles may be present in the discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 70% by volume. The discontinuous reinforced metal matrix composites of the invention may be used in structures requiring greater strength and stiffness than can be provided by matrix metal alone. The materials of the invention may be used for vehicle parts, structural materials, and the like.

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What is claimed is: 1. A discontinuously reinforced metal composite, consisting essentially of: a matrix metal comprising a principle matrix metal; and a plurality of intermetallic particles, the intermetallic particles having a size ranging from 1 μm to about 10 μm and being dispersed

What is claimed is: 1. A discontinuously reinforced metal composite, consisting essentially of: a matrix metal comprising a principle matrix metal; and a plurality of intermetallic particles, the intermetallic particles having a size ranging from 1 μm to about 10 μm and being dispersed within the metal matrix in an amount ranging from greater than 40% by volume to about 70% by volume, wherein said intermetallic particles comprise binary intermetallic compounds comprised of the principal matrix metal and one other metal. 2. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is aluminum. 3. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 2, wherein said other metal is one of the group of antimony, arsenic, barium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gadolinium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, neodymium, nickel, niobium, platinum, strontium, tantalum, tellurium, thorium, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, and zirconium. 4. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is magnesium. 5. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 4, wherein said other metal is one of the group of aluminum, bismuth calcium, copper, gallium, gadolinium, germanium, lanthanum, nickel, lead, antimony, silicon, samarium, tin, strontium, thallium, ytterbium, and zinc. 6. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is chromium. 7. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 6, wherein said other metal is one of the group of niobium and zirconium. 8. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is cobalt. 9. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 8, wherein said other metal is tungsten. 10. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is copper. 11. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 10, wherein the said other metal is one of the group of magnesium, titanium, and zirconium. 12. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is indium. 13. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 12, wherein said other metal is one of the group of antimony and strontium. 14. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is molybdenum. 15. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 14, wherein said other metal is one of the group of silicon and zirconium. 16. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is nickel. 17. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 16, wherein said other metal is one of the group of indium, titanium, yttrium, and zirconium. 18. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is niobium. 19. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 18, wherein said other metal is one of the group of cobalt and silicon. 20. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is silicon. 21. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 20, wherein said other metal is one of the group of vanadium and zirconium. 22. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is strontium. 23. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 22, wherein said other metal is one of the group of tin and zinc. 24. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is tin. 25. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 24, wherein said other metal is strontium. 26. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is titanium. 27. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 26, wherein said other metal is one of the group of cobalt, nickel, and silicon. 28. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is tungsten. 29. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 28, wherein said other metal is nickel. 30. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is vanadium. 31. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 30, wherein said other metal is nickel. 32. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is zinc. 33. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 32, wherein said other metal is strontium. 34. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said principal matrix metal is zirconium. 35. The discontinuously reinforced metal composite of claim 1, wherein said other metal is one of the group of nickel and silicon.