Consolidation and densification methods for fibrous monolith processing
AssigneeAdvanced Ceramics Research, Inc.
InventorsManish P. Sutaria, Mark J. Rigali, Ronald A. Cipriani, Gregory J. Artz, Anthony C. Mulligan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for consolidation and densification of fibrous monolith composite structures are provided. Consolidation and densification of two- and three-dimensional fibrous monolith components having complex geometries can be achieved by pressureless sintering. The fibrous monolith composites are formed from filaments having at least a first material composition generally surrounded by a second material composition. The composites are sintered at a pressure of no more than about 30 psi to provide consolidated and densified fibrous monolith composites.
Claims9
A process for consolidation and densification of multi-phase fibrous monolith composite materials comprising:
- placing preformed fibrous monolith composite materials formed of one or more filaments each having a central portion of a first uniformly suspended mixture and an outer portion of a second uniformly suspended mixture essentially surrounding the central portion, wherein the second uniformly suspended mixture forms essentially a separate phase between the central portion of the one or more filaments in the composite materials, in a sintering furnace;
- and
- heating the fibrous monolith composite materials at a pressure of between about 1 to about 30 psi at a temperature effective to achieve full density of the first and second uniformly suspended mixtures and provide sintered fibrous monolith composite materials.
A method for manufacture of an article comprised of multi-phase fibrous monolithic composite materials comprising the steps of:
- a) forming fibrous monolithic composite materials in the form of a filament and including a first material composition generally surrounded by a second material composition;
- b) compressing the fibrous monolithic composite materials filament to consolidate and densify the first and second material compositions;
- c) forming the compressed fibrous monolithic composite materials filament into a preform of the fibrous monolithic composite materials article;
- and
- d) sintering the preform at generally atmospheric pressure at a temperature effective for providing an essentially fully dense, sintered fibrous monolithic composite materials article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.