Abstract: This invention relates to a process of forming components having selectively thickened regions from superplastically formable and diffusion bondable materials. The said selected thickening is achieved by positioning metal matrix composite plies between the interior surface of each of the formed skin sheets of the component and the sheets which will form the internal cells, superplastically forming the cells, and then diffusion bonding the component to form a metallurgically bonded structure.

Abstract: A method of forming composite articles from components (12, 14, 16) is described in which the components are joined by adhesive at their interfaces (18). The components have cavities (22) and the adhesive is compressed while it sets by placing magnetically attractable particulate material (20) into the cavities on one side of the interface and placing magnets (26) on the other side of the interface so that the attraction between the magnets and the particulate material compresses the adhesive. The particulate material may be removed from the cavities after the adhesive has set through apertures (24).

Abstract: A superplastic forming apparatus is described in which a blank of superplastic material is formed onto a die located in a pressure cavity. The die, which is preferably made of ceramic material, is removable from the cavity and requires no special connections for gas or vacuums ducts and therefore is cheap to manufacture. The use of a separate die also allows accurate monitoring and control of the pressure on the die side of the superplastic blank.