US Patent 7998401 Method for producing aluminum composite material

A method for producing an aluminum composite material having a great content of a ceramics with ease. The method (a) mixes an aluminum powder and ceramic particles, to prepare a mixed material, (b) subjects the mixed material to electric pressure sintering together with a metal sheet material, to form a clad material including a sintered product covered with the metal sheet material, and (c) subjects the clad material to a plastic working to prepare an aluminum composite material. In the (b) subjecting, the mixed material is sandwiched between a pair of metal sheets or a powder of the mixed material is held in a metal container, the mixed material is placed in a forming die in a state in which the metal sheet material is pressurized by a punch, and the mixed material is compressed together with the metal sheet material. The metal sheet material is made of aluminum or stainless steel.