Production container for producing aluminium material and system comprising same

Abstract

According to the invention, a production container (or a transportable building or housing) comprises: - a mechanical reactor (particularly preferably an eccentric vibratory mill) and with: - a raw material inlet and / or a powder raw material intermediate storage and: - a powder product intermediate storage and / or a product outlet and: - a feed transport line for powder or granules or chips of aluminum and / or powder or powder-based bulk materials of boron nitride and / or powder-based release agent from the material inlet and / or the powder raw material intermediate storage to the mill and with: - a discharge transport line for aluminum product powder from the mill to the powder product intermediate storage and / or to the product outlet.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a production container, in particular for manufacturing a metal matrix composite material from a powder mixture with a composition of Mechanically crushed aluminium with a purity level of at least 95.0% and hexagonal boron nitride and up to 2% of its weight release agent.

[0002] Metal matrix composites are used in the English-speaking world Metal Matrix Composites (MMC). In this case, with aluminum as a metal component, it can be described as an aluminum matrix composite.

[0003] Aluminium matrix composites are usually reinforced with ceramic particles / fibers or additives such as SiC and / or Al 2 O 3, carbon modifications or, depending on the application, also with natural and synthetic fibers.

[0004] Reinforcements with ceramic additives are known, for example, from: https: / / iopscience.iop.org / article / 10.1088 / 1757-899X / 310 / 1 / 012156 / pdf or https: / / www.sciencedirect.com / science / article / pii / S2238785415000691

[0005] Examples of graphite reinforcements are known from: https: / / www.ijert.org / research / analysis-of-properties-of-aluminum-graphite-metal-matrix-composites-IJERTV2IS1 .pdf or http: / / www.imapsfrance.org / thermal / Session%20III / III-1.pdf .

[0006] The particle reinforcement of aluminum alloys is generally quite complex. It is usually produced by mixing both components into a green compact and simultaneously or subsequently sintering it. This process forms the aluminum matrix composite into an ingot, semi-finished product, or component. Heat treatment can be applied afterward.

[0007] Some of the added particles are harmful to health, even carcinogenic.

[0008] Aluminum alloys are used, not least, in the electrical industry as structural and conductor materials. The following aluminum alloys, for example, are commonly used there: Legierung EuroNorm-Designation AlSi1Sn1MgBi EN AW - AlSi1MgMn - EN AW - Al Mg 1 - EN AW - Reinaluminium 99.5E EN AW - 1350A E-AIMgSi0.5 EN AW - 6101B

[0009] Pure aluminum 99.5E (EN AW-1350A, DIN EN 14121), for example, has a tensile strength between 105 and 165 MPa, depending on the condition, an electrical conductivity of at least 34 MS / m, and a thermal conductivity of up to 230 W / (mK). The comparatively higher-strength, age-hardenable alloy E-AIMgSi0.5 (EN AW-6101B, DIN EN 14121) has a tensile strength between 170 and 215 MPa, an electrical conductivity of approximately 32 MS / m, and a thermal conductivity in the range of about 218 W / (mK). It should be noted that aluminum alloys exhibit significantly reduced thermal and electrical conductivity as their strength increases.

[0010] Aluminium matrix composites are rarely used due to their complex manufacturing processes and the associated high production costs.

[0011] The use of ceramic dispersoids is a known advantageous reinforcement system for metal-matrix composites (MMCs). Common materials include SiC, Al₂O₃, and BN (with cubic dispersoids being more prevalent than hexagonal ones), as well as complex rare earth (SE) combinations in various configurations. Well-known forms include fiber, nanoparticle, and nanotube reinforcement systems.

[0012] Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) possesses a lattice structure similar to graphite and therefore comparable properties, such as facilitating the sliding of lattice planes, which makes h-BN an efficient lubricant. At the same time, h-BN's high temperature and corrosion resistance makes it a relatively inert system and therefore a suitable reinforcing material for metal-matrix composites, not least because it avoids the degrading aging process caused by slow decomposition or dissolution of the dispersoids in the base matrix.

[0013] The invention is based on the objective of improving a production facility for aluminium material that is particularly suitable for mechanical as well as electrotechnical applications.

[0014] The above problem is solved by a container according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0015] According to the invention, a production container (or also a transportable building or housing) is equipped with a mechanical reactor (particularly preferably an eccentric vibratory mill or an attritor) and with at least one raw material inlet and / or at least one intermediate storage for powder raw material and a intermediate storage for powder product and / or a product outlet and a feed transport section for powder or granules or chips of aluminium and / or powder or powder-based bulk materials of boron nitride and / or release agent from the raw material inlet and / or the intermediate storage for powder raw material to the mill and with a discharge transport section for aluminium product powder from the mill to the intermediate storage for powder product and / or to the product outlet.

[0016] According to the invention, aluminium powder can also mean Al granules or Al chips - and in particular also mechanically crushed.

[0017] Preferably, the feed line operates discontinuously, namely until a specific fill level of the reactor is reached. In particular, to automatically determine, measure, and / or control this, the feed line includes a powder portioning device that determines and / or controls the mass and / or volume of the supplied powder.

[0018] Preferably, the discharge line operates discontinuously, namely until a batch of the powder produced in the reactor has been discharged. Discharge is also interrupted if a specific parameter of the produced powder exceeds or falls below a certain quality limit. In particular, to automatically detect, measure, and / or control this, the discharge line includes a quality control measuring station configured to measure the specified parameter (either continuously or discontinuously).

[0019] A system with [missing information] is particularly preferred. the production container as well as a supply container.

[0020] Both containers are set up to form a production island and be connected via powder transport lines and signal lines - preferably with one or two supply containers and two to six production containers.

[0021] According to the invention, the supply container is particularly preferably equipped with a raw material input and a central powder raw material warehouse and a raw material output and a product input and a central powder product warehouse and a product output and a feed transport line for powder or granules or chips of aluminum and / or powder or powder-based bulk materials of boron nitride and / or release agent from the raw material input to the central powder raw material warehouse and from there to the raw material output and with a discharge transport line for aluminum product powder from the product input to the central powder product warehouse and from there to the product output.

[0022] One possibility according to the invention for the "raw material" or "powdered raw material" according to the invention, in particular the additives boron nitride and / or release agents, is also a powder-based raw material, namely in particular in pre-portioned tablets, pills, or pellets, which may even contain the additives together in a fixed ratio. These can be introduced at various points, in particular in the production container, into the transport lines, which can preferably be understood as a piping system (in particular between a weighing point and an inlet of the reactor). Thus, the storage may then not be a bulk material storage facility as such, but possibly a magazine-type tablet dispenser, possibly with a central tablet magazine in the supply container.

[0023] According to the invention, separate hose lines are also provided, which transport the respective powder (analogous to the transport of pure aluminum as powder, granules, or chips) to a weighing or portioning station in the production containers. The system then preferably comprises not only storage for each of the three components but also three "hose infrastructures" or, more generally, a transport system for each component – ​​up to the reactor. This is because, according to the invention, the mixing to form a powder product takes place there.

[0024] Alternatively, complete premixing in the raw material (intermediate or central) storage facility is also possible according to the invention. A somewhat less precise approach would be to route a predefined quantity of additive from the supply container or an intermediate storage facility along the same transport route as the aluminum. Since this additive can be lost, segregated, and / or have its mixing ratio altered within the pipeline network, precise portioning in the reactor is not as reliable. However, this option is also possible according to the invention.

[0025] It is particularly preferable to connect the product outputs of the production containers with at least one of the product inputs of the supply containers via powder transport lines.

[0026] Preferably, the discharge line operates discontinuously, namely until a batch of powder produced in a reactor of the production cell has been discharged from the reactor. Discharge is also interrupted if a specific parameter of the produced powder exceeds or falls below a certain quality limit. To automatically detect, measure, and / or control this, the discharge line between the product inlet and the central powder product storage area includes a quality assurance measuring station configured to measure the specified parameter (either continuously or discontinuously).

[0027] The supply container is particularly preferably equipped, according to the invention, with a control unit connected to its elements via a signal line – in order to control them. The control unit is also configured to be connected to the elements of the production container via a signal line: When assembled into a production cell with production containers, the control unit is particularly preferably connected to the elements of the production containers via a signal line – and again configured to control them as well.

[0028] The invention particularly preferably allows the production of an aluminum matrix composite material which has a composition consisting of mechanically crushed aluminum with a purity level of more than 95.0%, preferably more than 99.0% (especially 99.5%), and up to 2% by weight of a release agent, in particular metal soap or stearic acid, as well as hexagonal boron nitride (and preferably only these three components) - and particularly preferably by a proportion of hexagonal boron nitride of only 1% by weight.

[0029] This material can be produced in the plant according to the invention by mixing the mechanically crushed aluminium with the other components in powder form.

[0030] After the components are mixed, the mixture is preferably extruded, achieving a tensile strength of up to 400 MPa, even immediately after extrusion without subsequent heat treatment. However, primary forming processes such as forging, sintering, or 3D printing [additive manufacturing] to produce an ingot, semi-finished product, or component are also processing methods according to the invention for the powder mixture, preferably such that (with controlled and / or regulated process parameters) no melt phase is formed and, in particular, the melting point, especially of the aluminum material, is not exceeded.

[0031] According to the invention, the thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity are advantageously at the level of the starting material, pure aluminum, particularly with a purity level of 99.5%. A purity level of 99.2% has proven very effective.

[0032] The aluminum matrix composite material according to the invention can possess a particularly advantageous combination of electrical conductivity, strength, corrosion resistance, and creep resistance. The addition of up to 1% boron nitride allows the strength to be increased, for example, from approximately 80 MPa to approximately 400 MPa. In addition to the electrical conductivity, the corrosion resistance of the composite according to the invention is not impaired, as is the case in prior art composite materials; rather, both properties remain at the level of aluminum with a purity of 99.5%.

[0033] Dislocation movements are increased or even prevented by the addition of boron nitride, which actually increases the creep resistance of the composite according to the invention compared to Al 99.5.

[0034] For the production and, in particular, the shaping of the aluminum matrix composite material according to the invention, extrusion, especially as a final step in the manufacturing process, is particularly preferred. Most common extruded aluminum matrix composites require a forming temperature of at least 450 °C. Typically, subsequent heat treatment is carried out to fully densify the composite. For shaping the aluminum matrix composite after production in the system according to the invention, a significantly lower forming temperature is sufficient (especially such that the melting point is not exceeded or only slightly exceeded) to achieve nearly 100% final density and strength. Subsequent heat treatment is not required.

[0035] For the production of the aluminium matrix composite material in the plant according to the invention, pure aluminium, preferably in 99.5% purity, and in particular also exclusively physiologically harmless materials are used in all other respects.

[0036] The straightforward recycling of the finished aluminum matrix composite is a further advantage – as is the potential use of recycled aluminum, and in particular the mechanical comminution of pure aluminum granules into the Al powder for production in the inventive system. This material enables the sustainable use of raw materials, resource efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Since the composite consists of up to 99.95% pure aluminum (the potential purity of the Al powder component), it can be returned to the recycling and secondary markets without any loss of quality, which is highly advantageous.

[0037] For electrotechnical applications, this aluminum matrix composite material is particularly advantageous due to its strength being three times higher than conventional "E-aluminium" and its improved corrosion and creep resistance.

[0038] The following exemplary compositions have proven particularly suitable for the production of the aluminium matrix composite material in the plant according to the invention as a mixture (especially of only these three components) especially for subsequent, and especially also final, extrusion: Mechanically ground aluminum powder with a purity of over 95%, preferably over 99%, particularly preferably over 99.5%, particularly 99.7%, with a fractured grain shape and surface, with mean grain diameters of up to 2-4 mm, preferably at most 100 µm, particularly preferably at most 50 µm, particularly 25 to 40 µm; hexagonal boron nitride powder at most 1%, preferably at most 0.5%, particularly preferably at most 0.1%, particularly 0.05%, of the weight of the composition with a purity of at least 95%, preferably at least 97%, particularly preferably at least 98%, particularly 98.5%, with a mean particle size of up to 1 mm, preferably at most 10 µm, particularly preferably at most 5 µm, particularly 2 µm; and release agent powder, preferably metal soap or stearic acid, in a quantity of at most 2%, preferably at most 1.5%, particularly preferably at most 1%, and in particular 0.5%.

[0039] The solidification process in the inventive system (to give the soft base material increased strength) is based on so-called dispersion hardening.

[0040] Dispersoids (particles) are distributed as homogeneously as possible within the respective matrix material (this goal is largely dependent on process parameters), ensuring a particularly uniform distance between the individual particles. The smaller the distance between the individual dispersoids, the more efficiently the respective microscopic strain field of a dispersoid affects the macroscopic material strength within the overall composite. This relationship can be calculated via the so-called Orowan mechanism, which describes how dislocation movements (macroscopically – the fewer dislocation movements, the stronger the material) are contained or at least significantly impeded within the strain field of obstacles (here, the dispersoids).The minimum dispersoid distance results from the propagation of the distortion field that the dispersoid (the more similar the dispersoid is in its structure to the matrix material, the more effective) can project into the surrounding matrix material.

[0041] Firstly, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) offers excellent bonding to the host lattice of aluminum, thus hindering dislocation movement particularly efficiently. Secondly, during mechanical comminution, especially milling, h-BN breaks down into its individual slip planes, so that at the end of the process the dispersoids are only a few nanometers in size. This has a significant effect on pure aluminum, as even very small amounts of h-BN (e.g., 0.05 to 0.99 wt%) can generate high work hardening. This is a major difference compared to other dispersoids (e.g., SiC, Al₂O₃, or cubic BN), which typically require a proportion of 5 to 40 wt% of the material. Due to the small size and shape of the individual h-BN slip planes, the lattice distortions have a comparatively small effect on phonon and electron motion.Thus, physical properties such as the electrical and thermal conductivity of the starting material are largely or completely preserved. Furthermore, the h-BN dispersions, which cannot be cut by dislocations, prevent grain growth. Another effect of the restricted dislocation movement is the inhibition of deformation in the microstructure, which advantageously translates into creep resistance.

[0042] Among the process parameters mentioned, the following is particularly preferred: For a homogeneous distribution, the particles should be as little agglomerated (stuck together) as possible and should be present as uniformly as possible in the macromixture (the starting material in powder form).

[0043] Subsequently, the particles (the h-BN) are "incorporated" into the Al matrix material (i.e., during the preparation of the mixture of h-BN powder and Al powder). It is crucial that the matrix material does not clump together during this process, otherwise the particles cannot penetrate the matrix.

[0044] In the prior art, composite materials are mechanically alloyed with the highest possible energy. In the particularly preferred process in the inventive system, however, the energy during mechanical alloying is preferably kept so low that matrix components are not further ground, crushed, or smeared; the particles are merely "gently" incorporated into the matrix material.

[0045] Another particularly preferred composition of the powder mixture is, for example: water atomization ( water atomised ) or gas-atomized ( atomized gas) Aluminium powder with a purity of over 95%, preferably over 99%, particularly preferably over 99.5%, particularly 99.7%, in spherical grain shape, smooth surface, with mean grain diameters of up to 2 to 4 mm, preferably at most 100 µm, particularly preferably at most 50 µm, particularly 25 to 40 µm; hexagonal boron nitride powder at most 1%, preferably at most 0.5%, particularly preferably at most 0.1%, particularly 0.05%, of the weight of the composition with a purity of at least 95%, preferably at least 97%, particularly preferably at least 98%, particularly 98.5%, with a mean particle size of at most 50 µm, preferably at most 10 µm, particularly preferably at most 5 µm, particularly 2 µm; and release agent powder, metal soap, namely at most 2%, preferably at most 1.5%, particularly preferably at most 1%, especially 0.5%

[0046] The purity of the aluminum starting material significantly influences its physical properties: the purer the material, the better the physical and chemical properties, but the more expensive it is. Therefore, it is advantageous to limit the material to pure aluminum according to DIN EN 1780-1 (1xx) or DIN EN 573-3,4 (lxxx).

[0047] Large-scale application of this material is also possible with the described material selection, grinding technology, and processing of the powder mixture. For example, the powder extrusion process, while a further development compared to the well-known extrusion process for forming solid material, is nonetheless possible and advantageous.

[0048] While atomized spherical aluminum powder is suitable for large-scale applications, it is relatively expensive and does not necessarily require a high degree of dimensional accuracy. In the production process using the inventive system, it has been found that while the highest possible purity of the matrix powder is particularly advantageous, the particle shape is less critical. This means that the complex and resource-intensive production of water-atomized or gas-atomized powders (approx. €30 / kg) can be replaced by simpler, mechanically ground powders (approx. €2 to €3 / kg). The material can be taken directly from the processing circuit for pure electrical aluminum. This approach enables both an economical and resource-efficient end product and significantly improves the reliability of the raw material supply, even on a large scale. Aluminum granules with a particle size of approximately 1 to 5 mm are a standard product in the processing industry.The potential elimination of an energy-intensive remelting process in the inventive system generates additional savings.

[0049] h-BN and release agents, especially metal soap powders, are also materials that can be obtained cheaply in large quantities.

[0050] The production of the powder can include the process steps of crushing, mixing, mechanical alloying and deagglomerating.

[0051] The mixing process steps can take place in the mechanical reactor of the inventive system as follows, for example in an eccentric vibrating mill or for example also a planetary ball mill, in particular around the step of mechanical alloying.

[0052] The grinding and mixing processes can particularly preferably take place in two stages, following a preliminary process of comminution of the Al granules preferably outside the inventive system: In the preliminary process, the Al powder is mechanically comminuted, from, for example, 1 mm to 5 mm mean grain diameter to 25 µm to 40 µm.

[0053] For example, a filling of the mill of the system according to the invention consists of slightly less than one third powder and slightly more than two thirds grinding media: 1. Possible deagglomeration and homogenization of aluminum and release agent powders,

[0054] The applied grinding energy is preferably adjusted by setting the temperature, duration and speed so that powder agglomerations are reliably broken down without smearing material. 2. Mechanical alloying: High-energy forming with the addition of h-BN powder,

[0055] The energy input is preferably adjusted by setting the temperature, duration and speed so that the h-BN particles are pressed into the larger Al particles (milling, mechanical alloying). 3. Deagglomeration

[0056] A possible further deagglomeration step that further homogenizes the powder mixture.

[0057] Then, the deagglomeration process, which occurs at lower rotational speeds (with less energy input), evenly distributes production- and storage-related accumulations of Al and h-BN in the mixture.

[0058] The next step involves the incorporation of h-BN, a mechanical alloying process: In addition to further comminution, primarily of the h-BN particles, specifically their fragmentation by sliding across the lattice plane (similar to the action of lubricating with graphite – the same principle as a pencil, where only the outermost atomic layers are removed during writing), the (nanoscale) h-BN is incorporated into the surface of the Al matrix particles. Meanwhile, further deformations and diameter reductions can occur on the Al matrix particles. This process ultimately achieves a homogeneous mixture of the Al matrix and the h-BN dispersoids. This state can be predicted using calculations based on Orowan particles (the system applies exclusively to the encapsulation mechanism; the ceramic particle itself cannot be cut). An optimal effective distance between the dispersoids and their size can be calculated.

[0059] For powder production and mixing, planetary ball mills are particularly suitable as grinding systems for smaller throughputs. For large-scale comminution tasks, eccentric vibratory mills are suitable devices according to the invention.

[0060] In the aforementioned preliminary process, Al granules (with a grain size of, for example, 1 to 5 mm) can be reduced to a grain size of, for example, about 40 µm, particularly in an eccentric vibrating mill.

[0061] Regarding the subsequent processing of the powder produced in the system according to the invention, there are numerous shaping processes (especially for the non-porous material – porous systems would be, for example, filters). These can be broadly divided into methods with a melt phase (for example, casting, selective laser melting, powder welding, electron beam welding, cladding) or without a melt phase (extrusion (especially at high temperatures: hot extrusion), sintering processes (hot isostatic pressing – HIP), roller compaction (P / M), powder injection molding (PIM), spark plasma sintering (SPS), selective laser sintering (SLS), jet printing).

[0062] Sintering processes usually consist of a pre-compaction phase, the sintering process, and a post-compaction to reduce porosity.

[0063] In the particularly preferred high-temperature extrusion process (hot extrusion), the powder compaction occurs in a single operation within the die by the press ram. The subsequent thermomechanical bonding (friction welding and joining of the individual MMC particles) can be achieved through the applied pressing pressure in combination with the temperature (particularly preferably below the material's melting point) within the die, resulting in the formation of a largely pore-free molded part (barrel, semi-finished product, or even finished component).

[0064] In 3D printing systems (especially sintering systems), pre-compaction and densification can be achieved through the structure and composition of the printing powder and / or a laser-based joining technique (particularly without a melting phase). Possible techniques differ in their process steps. On the one hand, there are pure green compact manufacturing approaches, in which the product is sintered separately only after shaping. On the other hand, there are manufacturing approaches in which the sintering process is initiated locally by the laser directly during powder application. Compared to the former, the latter process variant has lower porosity, but this is usually at the cost of higher production requirements and lower output.

[0065] Extrusion at high temperatures, a particularly suitable method for powder processing, offers material throughput rates that are suitable for large-scale production and comparable to conventional mass production methods in the metal industry. Devices for this process are designed, for example, as follows.

[0066] The extrusion process in conventional extrusion systems for solid material forming preferably incorporates a handling aid for powder systems produced in a system according to the invention, in order to transfer the compression energy applied by the ram to the powder material. Possible methods include, for example, sintering or forging the powder material into an extrusion billet, or the use of powder-filled metal sleeves based on the powder matrix material (for example, aluminum powder in an aluminum sleeve). Both variants seal the die side of the receiver (thus preventing the powder material from being blown out through the die) and allow continuous degassing while the ram compresses the system and generates the pressing pressure for material shaping. Compared to the sintered billet, the sleeve variant can be more flexible while simultaneously requiring less labor and incurring lower costs.The sleeve system can produce a layer of sleeve material on the outer shell of the press profile, which requires subsequent mechanical processing.

[0067] The sleeve can, for example, be designed without welds between its base and sides. This prevents the welds, which are usually softer than the sleeve itself, from deforming during the actual extrusion process.

[0068] Both end caps can be screwed together and hold the powder in the casing during extrusion. A vent hole in the cap allows the powder to escape.

[0069] By using, for example, such a sleeve system, the processing can otherwise correspond to a conventional extrusion process in conventional machines or systems.

[0070] For example, the sleeve is extruded in a preheated state at 350 °C.

[0071] The following figures show in two diagrams properties of the following composition as an embodiment of the invention in comparison to E-aluminium ("E-Al (ref.)") from the prior art: Mechanically ground aluminum powder with a purity of 99.5% in a fractured grain shape and surface with mean grain diameters between 25 and 40 µm; < 1.0 wt% hexagonal boron nitride powder; < 2.0 wt% release agent. Fig. 1 shows a stress / strain diagram, Fig. 2 shows a diagram of the thermal conductivity behavior as a function of temperature, and Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a production cell according to the invention.

[0072] According to Fig. 1The significantly higher stress curve of the aluminium matrix composite material produced in the inventive plant, with peak values ​​for tensile strength in the range of 400 MPa, is clearly evident compared to conventional aluminium material (E-Al), with maximum values ​​in the range of about 150 MPa.

[0073] Fig. 2 This highlights the advantages of the aluminium matrix composite material produced in the inventive system, because the thermal conductivity (W / mK) and, accordingly, the electrical conductivity are at the level of known aluminium materials (E-Al) over the relevant temperature range.

[0074] In Fig. 3 A production island is depicted.

[0075] It contains six identical production containers 2 (transportable buildings) in the shape of a 20-foot shipping container, each with an eccentric vibratory mill as reactor 4 and with two raw material inputs 6 and a product output 8 and a feed transport section 10 for granules or chips of aluminium as well as a feed transport section 12 for powder-based bulk materials, namely pellets, of boron nitride and release agent (with a prepared ratio, according to the inventive recipe, of the two additives boron nitride and release agent in each of the pellets) from the respective raw material input 6 via a raw material intermediate storage 13 for the aluminium and for the additive pellets to the mill 4 and with a discharge transport section 14 for aluminium product powder from the mill 4 via a product intermediate storage 15 to the product output 8.

[0076] Advantageously, both feed lines 10, 12 and the discharge line 14 in each of the production containers 2 operate discontinuously: namely, the feed lines 10, 12 until the raw materials (pure aluminum as granules or shavings and the pellets with the additives) for a batch have been fed into the respective reactor 4 - to determine this automatically, the feed lines 10, 12 have automatic weighing stations 16 (the raw material intermediate storage 13 is located before the weighing station 16 and serves as storage for the discontinuous raw material supply to the production containers 2 from the two central storage sheds 26, 28, for the aluminum and the additive pellets of the supply container 20 - more on this below) - and the discharge line 14 then continues until a batch of the powder of powdered aluminum product produced in the respective reactor 4 has been removed from the reactor 4.

[0077] The discharge process is also interrupted if a specific parameter of the produced powder exceeds or falls below a certain quality limit. To automatically detect, measure, and control this, the discharge line 14 features a quality assurance measuring station 17, which is designed to continuously measure the specified parameter. Downstream of the quality assurance measuring station 17 is the product intermediate storage 15, which, in combination with the weighing station 16, can also function as a quarantine storage area. The storage areas 15 are emptied discontinuously (after release) into the central storage area 34.

[0078] The image is shown in Fig. 3 a system with the production container 2 (six of which are in the production island shown) and a supply container 20.

[0079] Both container types 2 and 20 of the system are configured to form a production island and to be connected via powder transport lines 22 and signal lines 52 – as described in Fig. 3 has been done.

[0080] The supply container 20, in the form of a 20-foot shipping container, is advantageously equipped with two raw material inputs 24 and two powder raw material central storage facilities (one central storage facility 26 for granules or chips of recycled pure aluminum and one central storage facility 28 for powder-based bulk materials, namely pellets, made from the additives) and two raw material outputs 30 and one product input 32 and one powder product central storage facility 34 and one product output 36 and one feed-transport line 38 for granules or chips of aluminum and one feed-transport line 40 for powder-based bulk materials of boron nitride and release agent from each of the two raw material inputs 24 to the respective powder raw material central storage facilities 26, 28 and from there to the respective raw material output 30 and with one discharge transport line 42 for aluminum product powder from the product input 32 to the powder product central storage facility 34 and from there to the product output 36.

[0081] For the material transports between containers 2, 20, the two raw material outputs 30 of the supply container 20 are connected to the two raw material inputs 6 of the respective production container 2, and the product output 8 of each of the production containers 2 is connected to the product input 32 of the supply container 20 by means of transport routes 22.

[0082] The connecting transport routes 22 outside of containers 2, 20 and the supply and removal routes 38, 42 in supply container 20 also operate appropriately discontinuously, as described above for production container 2.

[0083] The supply container 20 is particularly advantageously equipped with a controller 50 in signal line connection with all elements of the production cell to be controlled, and especially with elements 4, 16, 17 of system 2, 20, 22 – configured to control them. The controller 50 is also configured to be placed in signal line connection with elements 16, 17 of production containers 2: As shown, when assembled into a production cell with production containers 2, the controller 50 in supply container 20 is also placed in signal line connection 52 with elements 16, 17 of the six production containers 2 – and is again configured as a control network 52 to control these as well.

Claims

1. Production container with - a mechanical reactor and with - a raw material input and / or a powder raw material intermediate storage and - a powder product intermediate storage and / or a product output and - a feed transport line for powder or granules or chips of aluminium and / or powder or powder-based bulk materials of boron nitride and / or powder-based release agent from the raw material input and / or the powder raw material intermediate storage to the mill and with - a discharge transport line for aluminium product powder from the mill to the powder product intermediate storage and / or to the product output.

2. Production container according to claim 1, wherein the feed line operates discontinuously and / or has a portioning device.

3. Production container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal route operates discontinuously and / or has a quality assurance measuring station.

4. System comprising - the production container according to one of the preceding claims and - a supply container, which are configured to form a production island with at least one supply container and at least one production container and to be connected by powder transport lines and signal lines, the supply container comprising - a raw material input and a central powder raw material storage and a raw material output and - a product input and a central powder product storage and a product output and - a feed transport line for powder or granules or chips of aluminum and / or powder or powder-based bulk materials of boron nitride and / or release agent from the raw material input to the central powder raw material storage and from there to the raw material output and with - a discharge transport line for aluminum product powder from the product input to the central powder product storage and from there to the product output.

5. Supply container according to the preceding claim, wherein the discharge route operates discontinuously and / or has a quality assurance measuring station between product input and powder product central storage.

6. Supply container according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit in signal line connection with the elements of the supply container and placeable in signal line connection with the elements of the production container.

7. Method for producing a metal matrix composite from a mixture comprising aluminum as powder and / or granules and / or chips with a purity of at least 95.0% and with up to 1% by weight hexagonal boron nitride as powder or powder-based bulk material and up to 2% by weight release agent as powder or powder-based bulk material, comprising the steps of combining the material components in a reactor of a production container.according to one of the preceding claims to crush and mix.

8. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the composition comprises no material component other than the aluminium and the hexagonal boron nitride and the release agent.

9. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the mixture thus produced is subsequently processed outside the plant by primary forming or extrusion or forging or sintering or 3d printing into an ingot, semi-finished product or component.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of primary forming or extrusion or forging or sintering or 3d printing is carried out in such a way that the melting limit of the aluminium material is not exceeded.

11. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the step of mixing the material components in the reactor in powder form comprises the steps of - mechanically alloying the aluminium and the boron nitride and - deagglomerating before and / or afterwards.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of mechanically alloying the aluminium and the boron nitride and deagglomerating them beforehand and / or subsequently are carried out in the same apparatus, in the reactor, in a single operation.

13. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the steps of mechanically crushing the aluminium powder and mixing the material components in powder form are carried out in the same device, in the reactor, in one operation.

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