A die cast component includes an insert element with a plurality of form-fitting elements which are designed for the form-fitting connection of the insert element with a casting material. A ratio of a component wall thickness to a wall thickness of the insert element is a maximum of 4.

A die cast component includes an insert element with a plurality of form-fitting elements which are designed for the form-fitting connection of the insert element with a casting material. A ratio of a component wall thickness to a wall thickness of the insert element is a maximum of 4.

An exemplary method for making a metal matrix composite vehicle component includes: using a mold including male and female die portions having mold surfaces and a plurality of spacers; heating the mold to a casting temperature; placing a ceramic preform on the plurality of spacers, the ceramic preform being spaced apart from at least one of the mold surfaces by the spacers; closing the mold to form a mold cavity between the mold surfaces of the male and female die portions, the ceramic preform being disposed within the mold cavity; providing molten metal into the mold cavity; and pressurizing the molten metal to a casting pressure for a casting duration to infiltrate the ceramic preform thereby forming the metal matrix composite vehicle component.

An exemplary method for making a metal matrix composite vehicle component includes: using a mold including male and female die portions having mold surfaces and a plurality of spacers; heating the mold to a casting temperature; placing a ceramic preform on the plurality of spacers, the ceramic preform being spaced apart from at least one of the mold surfaces by the spacers; closing the mold to form a mold cavity between the mold surfaces of the male and female die portions, the ceramic preform being disposed within the mold cavity; providing molten metal into the mold cavity; and pressurizing the molten metal to a casting pressure for a casting duration to infiltrate the ceramic preform thereby forming the metal matrix composite vehicle component.

A crushing or wear part includes an un-reinforced steel alloy body and at least one in-situ cast localized composite wear zone disposed in the steel alloy body formed of metal carbide or metal boride particles selected from TiC, ZrC, WC, NbC, TaC, TiB.sub.2, and ZrB.sub.2 distributed in a steel alloy matrix. The at least one in-situ cast localized composite wear zone has a Vickers Hardness that is at least 700 and at least 50% greater than a Vickers Hardness of the un-reinforced steel alloy body. A bonding region that is located between the in-situ cast localized composite wear zone and the steel alloy body is continuous and free of cracks, and the in-situ cast localized composite wear zone is unfragmented.

A crushing or wear part includes an un-reinforced steel alloy body and at least one in-situ cast localized composite wear zone disposed in the steel alloy body formed of metal carbide or metal boride particles selected from TiC, ZrC, WC, NbC, TaC, TiB.sub.2, and ZrB.sub.2 distributed in a steel alloy matrix. The at least one in-situ cast localized composite wear zone has a Vickers Hardness that is at least 700 and at least 50% greater than a Vickers Hardness of the un-reinforced steel alloy body. A bonding region that is located between the in-situ cast localized composite wear zone and the steel alloy body is continuous and free of cracks, and the in-situ cast localized composite wear zone is unfragmented.

An armor plate is provided having a lamination of an embedded reinforcement basalt fiber mesh within a laminated cast metal alloy; and at least two layers of an aramid fiber. A process to make the armor plate can include suspending a basalt weave within a mold; heating aluminum 6061 or 7075 alloy to a molten state; pouring the molten aluminum into the mold; cooling the resultant matrixed aluminum to ambient temperature; and laminating at least two layers of ballistic fiber to the matrixed aluminum.

An armor plate is provided having a lamination of an embedded reinforcement basalt fiber mesh within a laminated cast metal alloy; and at least two layers of an aramid fiber. A process to make the armor plate can include suspending a basalt weave within a mold; heating aluminum 6061 or 7075 alloy to a molten state; pouring the molten aluminum into the mold; cooling the resultant matrixed aluminum to ambient temperature; and laminating at least two layers of ballistic fiber to the matrixed aluminum.

A hierarchical composite wear component may have a reinforcement in the most exposed part to wear, the reinforcement including a three-dimensionally interconnected network of periodically alternating millimetric ceramic-metal composite granules with millimetric interstices. The ceramic-metal composite granules have at least 52 vol %, preferably at least 61 vol %, more preferably at least 70 vol % of micrometric particles of titanium carbide embedded in a first metal matrix. The ceramic-metal composite granules have a density of at least 4.8 g/cm.sup.3. The three-dimensionally interconnected network of ceramic-metal composite granules with its millimetric interstices is embedded in the second metal matrix. The reinforcement has on average at least 23 vol %, more preferably at least 28 vol %, most preferably at least 30 vol % of titanium carbide, the first metal matrix being different from the second metal matrix, the second metal matrix including a ferrous cast alloy.

A hierarchical composite wear component may have a reinforcement in the most exposed part to wear, the reinforcement including a three-dimensionally interconnected network of periodically alternating millimetric ceramic-metal composite granules with millimetric interstices. The ceramic-metal composite granules have at least 52 vol %, preferably at least 61 vol %, more preferably at least 70 vol % of micrometric particles of titanium carbide embedded in a first metal matrix. The ceramic-metal composite granules have a density of at least 4.8 g/cm.sup.3. The three-dimensionally interconnected network of ceramic-metal composite granules with its millimetric interstices is embedded in the second metal matrix. The reinforcement has on average at least 23 vol %, more preferably at least 28 vol %, most preferably at least 30 vol % of titanium carbide, the first metal matrix being different from the second metal matrix, the second metal matrix including a ferrous cast alloy.