Coating by cmc curing for high thermal protection

Abstract

A method for producing a coated ceramic matrix composite (CMC) for high thermal protection includes the steps of (a) forming a CMC comprising at least two plies, and (b) forming a coated CMC by coating the CMC on at least one surface with an impregnated thickening agent, e.g. carbon fiber (CF) cloth, and curing at a predetermined temperature TC for a predetermined time duration tC. The curing is performed in a vacuum or in an inert gas atmosphere and may involve the use of a heated hydraulic press or an autoclave. The CF cloth is impregnated with an organic binder resin matrix. At temperatures exceeding a threshold temperature, free metal, e.g. silicon, migrates to a surface of the coated CMC to form a carbide or boride. Furthermore, a flexural strength of the coated CMC is markedly greater than that of the uncoated CMC by a factor of at least 1.50.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.