Process for the manufacture of a thermostructural composite material having a carbon interphase between its reinforcement fibers and its matrix
AssigneeSociete Europeenne de Propulsion
InventorsLouis Heraud, Jean-Philippe Rocher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The thermostructural composite material is produced by forming a fibrous preform made from refractory fibers coated with a sizing agent. The preform is densified by a refractory matrix, in particular ceramic, while a carbon interphase is provided between the fibers and the matrix. The fibrous preform is made from refractory fibers coated with a sizing agent of the type that leaves behind a carbon residue upon thermal decomposition. The carbon interphase is produced by the thermal degradation of the sizing agent, occurring for example after the preform is made. The sizing agent is chosen among phenolic, acrylic and cellulose resins, and in particular carboxymethylcellulose.
Claims14
A process for the manufacture of a thermostructural composite material having a fibrous preform densified by a refractory matrix with a carbon interphase being provided between the fibers of the preform and the matrix, said process comprising the steps of:
- providing elementary refractory fibers substantially coated with a sizing agent, said sizing agent being a material capable of leaving a carbon residue to form an interphase layer upon thermal decomposition;
- forming a fibrous preform from said coated elementary refractory fibers formed into threads;
- providing the carbon interphase layer as a substantially continuous coating on the elementary refractory fibers in the preform by thermal decomposition of the sizing agent upon heating of the fibrous preform;
- and
- subsequently densifying said fibrous preform with a refractory matrix material.
A process for the manufacture of a thermostructural composite material having a fibrous preform densified by a part-ceramic sequenced matrix, with a first carbon interphase being provided between the fibers of the preform and the matrix, and with a second interphase being provided between two ceramic phases of the matrix, the process comprising the steps of:
- providing elementary refractory fibers substantially coated with a sizing agent capable of leaving a carbon residue to form the first carbon interphase upon thermal decomposition;
- fabricating a fibrous preform from strands or threads made of said coated elementary refractory fibers;
- impregnating the fibrous preform with a precursor of the material of the second interphase capable of being transformed into the second interphase material by thermal treatment, whereby each strand or thread of the preform is covered with said precursor;
- heating the fibrous preform to obtain the first carbon interphase as a substantially continuous coating on said elementary fibers by thermal decomposition of the sizing agent and the second interphase by transformation of its precursor, each strand or thread showing a residual porosity;
- and
- subsequently densifying the fibrous preform with a ceramic matrix material to form a first ceramic phase between the first and second interphases by introduction of the ceramic matrix material into the residual porosity of the strands or threads, and a second ceramic phase separated from the first ceramic phase by the second interphase.
A process for the manufacture of a thermostructural composite material having a fibrous preform densified by a refractory matrix with a carbon interphase being provided between the fibers of the preform and the matrix, said process comprising the steps of:
- providing elementary refractory fibers;
- coating said elementary fibers with a sizing agent, said sizing agent being a material capable of leaving a carbon residue to form a carbon interphase layer upon thermal decomposition;
- forming a fibrous preform from said individually coated elementary refractory fibers formed into threads;
- providing the carbon interphase layer as a substantially continuous coating on the elementary refractory fibers by thermal decomposition of the sizing agent upon heating of the fibrous preform;
- and
- subsequently densifying said fibrous preform with a refractory matrix material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.