EVALUATION OF SIC MATRIX COMPOSITES FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS

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Abstract
SiC matrix composite components have been fabricated by infiltrating and overcoating fiber preforms of graphite, alumina, and SiC via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The degree of CVD densification could be controlled to yield vacuum tight components as well as porous open mesh structures where only the fiber was coated. These components have been fabricated in a wide variety of shapes including baskets, tubes and corrugated panels. The CVD process has been successfully scaled up to produce panels 80 cm by 80 cm. The morphology, chemistry, and geometry of the fiber was found to have a significant effect on the deposition process. Thus, process conditions had to be modified based on the fiber being infiltrated. These components were subjected to 1400 C temperature treatments including operation in gas-fired furnaces. After 2000 hours of testing in a gas-fired furnace at 1300 C, the SiC composite tubes have remained intact and un cracked. This suggests that the monolithic SiC coating is the controlling material and not the fibers. Hence, in light-load applications these structures still have useful lifetimes.

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