7. Glossary

Metal matrix composite (MMC)

Composite material in which one component is a metal or metal alloy that percolates as a continuous network. The second component, called reinforcement, is incorporated into the metal matrix and acts as a reinforcement.

CVD; Chemical Vapor Deposition

Chemical Vapor Deposition: vacuum deposition technique using gaseous precursors. Unlike PVD, which results from purely physical phenomena, CVD results from a chemical reaction or the decomposition of a molecule. This technique involves bringing a volatile compound in the material to be deposited into contact either with another gas in the vicinity of the surface to be coated, or with the surface itself. One or more chemical reactions are then triggered, producing at least one solid product. The other reaction products must be gaseous in order...