Machined ceramic matrix composite airfoil preform and method
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorsRussell KIM, Jonas BANHOS, James T. ROACH
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) airfoil component can be made by forming a stack of fabric plies with a plurality of plies adhered together with a tackifier. The stack of fabric plies is machined into an airfoil shape to form an airfoil core with an orientation of the fabric plies selected based upon strength and/or performance requirements of the airfoil component. The airfoil core is then overwrapped with an outer mold layer formed of one or more plies of fabric to form a preform. The preform is then densified, such as via melt infiltration (MI) and/or chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), to form the CMC airfoil component such as a turbine vane or a turbine blade.
Claims20
A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) airfoil preform consisting of:
- an airfoil core formed solely from a plurality of stacked fabric plies held together at an orientation with a tackifier to form a billet and machined into a complete airfoil shape;
- and
- an outer mold layer overwrap formed of one or more plies of fabric disposed to overwrap the airfoil core.
(canceled)
A method of forming a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) airfoil component, comprising:
- stacking a plurality of fabric plies and adhering the stack of fabric plies together at an orientation with a tackifier to form a billet;
- machining the billet into a complete airfoil shape to form an airfoil core;
- and
- overwrapping the airfoil core with an outer mold layer overwrap formed of one or more plies of fabric to form a preform.
(canceled)
A method of forming ceramic matrix composite (CMC) airfoil component, consisting of:
- forming a billet from a stack of fabric plies by adhering a plurality of plies together at an orientation with a tackifier;
- machining the billet into a complete airfoil shape to form an airfoil core with the orientation of the fabric plies selected based upon strength and/or performance requirements of the airfoil component;
- overwrapping the airfoil core with an outer mold layer formed of one or more plies of fabric to form a preform;
- and
- densifying the preform via melt infiltration (MI) and/or chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to form the CMC airfoil component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.