Sacrificial fibers for cooling air flow in ceramic matrix composites, methods of manufacture and articles comprising the same

A composite comprising:

• a ceramic matrix composite comprising a preform including a plurality of woven plies stacked on top of each other in a vertical direction, each woven ply including ceramic fibers in the form of warp fibers extending in a longitudinal direction and fill fibers woven into the warp fibers and extending in a lateral direction;
• and
• one or more sacrificial fibers woven into the preform;
• where the sacrificial fibers are woven vertically through the plies between warp fibers and fill fibers of each ply and are looped over the sides of the preform;
• and where portions of the sacrificial fibers are exposed on the sides of the preform;
• where the sacrificial fibers are operative to undergo oxidation or melting upon being subjected to an elevated temperature;
• and wherein the sacrificial fibers leave cooling holes in the composite preform upon being subjected to oxidation or melting;
• wherein the sacrificial fibers comprise glass fibers.