COMPOSITE MATERIALS HANDBOOK VOLUME 4. METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

PURPOSE
The primary purpose of MIL-HDBK-17 Volume 4 is the standardization of engineering data development
methodologies related to characterization testing, data reduction, and data reporting of properties for
metal matrix composite materials. In support of this objective MIL-HDBK-17 Volume 4 publishes properties
on composite material systems for which data meeting specific requirements is available. In addition,
MIL-HDBK-17 provides selected guidance on other technical topics related to composites, including material
selection, material specification, material processing, design, analysis, quality control, and repair of
typical metal matrix composite materials. Thus, MIL-HDBK-17 is published in three major sections, and
serves as a source for the following:

• Section 1 - Guidelines: Documents material characterization data development methodology
guidelines adaptable to a wide variety of needs, as well as specific requirements to be met by data
published in the handbook. Most procuring and certifying agencies prefer, and some may require,
that composite material systems used in critical applications either be characterized in accordance
with Section 1 guidelines or selected from material systems published in Section 3.

• Section 2 - Utilization of Data: This section provides guidance on statistical analysis of metal matrix
composite data. In addition, methodologies and recommendations for design, modeling, joining,
structural reliability, and repair are given.

• Section 3 - Materials Property Data: Provides a repository of potential design data. The documented
property summaries for material systems provide data meeting the criteria for any of the
two MIL-HDBK-17 data documentation classes, screening and fully approved.