Bladder cast slurry infiltration

A method comprising:

• infiltrating a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate positioned in a cavity of a mold body with a slurry, wherein the CMC substrate is a turbine engine seal segment having a base and a plurality of tips, wherein the CMC substrate comprises reinforcement material defining inner spaces, wherein the slurry comprises solid particles and a carrier material, and wherein the slurry at least partially fills at least a portion of the inner spaces of the CMC substrate;
• inflating a plurality of bladders coupled to the mold body and disposed within the cavity, wherein a surface of a first bladder of the plurality of bladders in an inflated configuration contacts an interior surface of each of the plurality of tips of the CMC substrate, and a surface of a second bladder of the plurality of bladders contacts the base of the CMC substrate, wherein each bladder of the plurality of bladders, when in the inflated configuration, is shaped to define a selected mold shape of the CMC substrate;
• drying the slurry to remove at least a portion of the carrier material to form an infiltrated CMC comprising the solid particles;
• and
• deflating at least one bladder of the plurality of bladders.

A method comprising:

• infiltrating a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate positioned in a cavity of a mold body with a slurry, wherein the CMC substrate comprises reinforcement material defining inner spaces, wherein the slurry comprises solid particles and a carrier material, wherein the slurry at least partially fills at least a portion of the inner spaces of the CMC substrate;
• inflating a plurality of bladders coupled to the mold body and disposed within the cavity, wherein a surface of a first bladder of the plurality of bladders in an inflated configuration contacts a first surface of the CMC substrate, and a surface of a second bladder of the plurality of bladders contacts a second, opposite surface of the CMC substrate, wherein each bladder of the plurality of bladders, when in the inflated configuration, is shaped to define a selected mold shape of the CMC substrate, and wherein the first bladder of the plurality of bladders defines a rectangular prism shape;
• drying the slurry to remove at least a portion of the carrier material to form an infiltrated CMC comprising the solid particles;
• and
• deflating at least one bladder of the plurality of bladders.