Carbon fiber-reinforced article and method therefor
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael A. Kmetz, Sam Frueh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of fabricating a carbon fiber-reinforced article includes providing carbon fibers that have surfaces that include an initial interfacial bonding strength capacity with respect to bonding with boron nitride. The surfaces are then modified to reduce the initial interfacial bonding strength capacity. A layer of boron nitride is then deposited on the modified surfaces and the carbon fibers are then embedded in a ceramic matrix. A carbon fiber-reinforced article includes the carbon fibers, the layer of boron nitride on the surfaces of the carbon fibers, and the ceramic matrix. The article exhibits non-brittle fracture.
Claims16
A method of fabricating a carbon fiber-reinforced article, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of carbon fibers, the plurality of carbon fibers including surfaces;
- ordering microstructural stacking faults in a graphitic microstructure of the surfaces of the plurality of carbon fibers;
- depositing a layer of boron nitride on the surfaces;
- depositing a silicon-containing layer on the layer of boron nitride:
- and
- embedding the plurality of carbon fibers in a ceramic matrix to provide a carbon fiber-reinforced article.
A method of fabricating an oxidation-resistant carbon fiber, the method comprising:
- providing at least one carbon fiber, the at least one carbon fiber including an exposed surface;
- ordering microstructural stacking faults in a graphitic microstructure of the exposed surface;
- and
- depositing a layer of boron nitride on the exposed surface, the layer of boron nitride having a thickness of 50-150 nanometers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.