Synthetic multifunctional metallic-intermetallic laminate composites

The field of material microstructure design targeted for a specific set of structural and functional properties is now a recognized field of focus in materials science and engineering. This paper describes a new class of structural materials called metallic-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites, which can have their micro-, meso- and macrostructure designed to achieve a wide array of material properties and tailored to achieve specific functionalities. The superior specific properties of this class of composites makes them extremely attractive for high-performance aerospace applications, and the fabrication method for creating MIL composites allows new embedded technologies to be incorporated into the materials, enhancing their functionality and utility.