Engineered Micro-voids for Toughening Ceramic Composites
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsDaniel H. Hecht, Antonio P. De La Garza, III
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Abstract
A ceramic composite material comprises a ceramic compound, a plurality of shaping particles dispersed in the ceramic compound, and a plurality void spaces dispersed in the ceramic compound. The plurality of shaping particles are contained within the plurality of void spaces, and each of the plurality of void spaces is a closed cell. The plurality of shaping particles also comprise nanostructures have a length to diameter ratio of less than or equal to 10 to 1 and a length of less than or equal to 500 nanometers.
Claims20
A ceramic composite material comprising:
- a ceramic compound;
- a plurality of shaping particles dispersed in the ceramic compound;
- and
- a plurality of a first type of void spaces dispersed in the ceramic compound;
- wherein:
- the plurality of shaping particles are contained within the plurality of the first type of void spaces;
- the shaping particles comprise nanostructures have a length to diameter ratio of less than or equal to 10 to 1 and a length of less than or equal to 500 nanometers;
- and
- each of the plurality of the first type of void spaces is a closed cell.
A method for producing a ceramic composite material comprising:
- treating nanofibers to remove pyro-carbon;
- mixing nanofibers with a first preceramic resin to form a first preceramic resin mixture;
- curing the first preceramic resin mixture;
- pyrolyzing the cured first preceramic resin mixture to form a nanofiber containing ceramic composite;
- grinding the nanofiber containing ceramic composite into ceramic composite particles;
- cleaning the ceramic composite particles;
- drying the ceramic composite particles;
- surface treating the ceramic composite particles;
- coating the ceramic particles with a sealant;
- mixing the ceramic particles with second preceramic resin to form a second, preceramic resin mixture;
- curing the second preceramic resin mixture;
- and
- pyrolyzing the second preceramic resin mixture to form a closed cell ceramic composite.
A ceramic matrix material comprising:
- a ceramic compound;
- and
- a plurality of void spaces dispersed in the ceramic compound;
- wherein:
- the void spaces have a length to diameter ratio of less than or equal to 10 to 1 and a length of less than or equal to 500 nanometers;
- the each of the plurality of void spaces is a closed cell;
- and
- the void spaces have irregular, non-uniform shapes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.