Progress in Fabrication of Silicon Nitride Structural Components for Turbomachinery Applications

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Abstract
The development and refinement of high performance silicon nitride structural ceramic materials over the last five years is leading to evaluation and implementation of components in aircraft, space, industrial, and automotive turbomachinery applications. Current material properties, status of component fabrication technologies, and status of applications being evaluated and commercialized at AlliedSignal Ceramic Components is discussed. Currently achievable properties of in-situ reinforced monolithic silicon nitride materials are presented. The development and status of component forming processes is also discussed, including their potential as manufacturing processes. The processes discussed include slipcasting, green machining, gelcasting, and injection molding. Finally, status of silicon nitride component fabrication and evaluation in a number of applications is discussed, including nozzle, blade, and wheel components for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) automotive turbine technology programs, the DOE Advanced Turbine Systems industrial turbine technology program, and a NASA-funded program to develop advanced rocket engine turbopumps.

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