A method makes a silicon compound-based passivating coating on a ceramic matrix composite reinforced with carbon fibers. A piece made in a ceramic matrix composite reinforced with carbon fibers is placed in a closed chamber of an oven. A predefined load of solid silicon is placed in the chamber avoiding direct contact between the silicon and the piece. The oven is heated while maintaining inside the chamber predefined medium/low vacuum conditions, to generate silicon vapors inside the chamber. The vapors react with substances on the surface of the piece to form a surface coating having composites of the substances with the silicon. The partial pressure of the vacuum, temperature inside the chamber and exposure times of the piece to the silicon vapors to obtain a predefined thickness of the surface coating are chosen. The piece is cooled once the predefined thickness of the passivating coating is reached.

The present invention relates to a technique of dramatically improving a method for causing a molten metal of an Al alloy or the like to infiltrate without pressurization into a preform obtained by molding and hardening a ceramic powder, and obtaining “a metal matrix composite formed from a ceramic powder and an Al alloy or the like” in a uniform state as a whole more simply and stably, and the present invention provides “a production method for producing a metal matrix composite containing aluminum and ceramic, the method including: obtaining a mixed body by performing molding using a mixture containing a magnesium-containing powder, a ceramic powder, and an inorganic or organic/inorganic binder that is hardened when heated to 500° C. or lower; preparing a preform by calcining the mixed body at a temperature of 500° C. or lower; and causing an Al alloy or the like to infiltrate without pressurization into the obtained preform to produce the metal matrix composite containing aluminum and ceramic, and a method for preparing the preform.”

The present invention relates to a technique of dramatically improving a method for causing a molten metal of an Al alloy or the like to infiltrate without pressurization into a preform obtained by molding and hardening a ceramic powder, and obtaining “a metal matrix composite formed from a ceramic powder and an Al alloy or the like” in a uniform state as a whole more simply and stably, and the present invention provides “a production method for producing a metal matrix composite containing aluminum and ceramic, the method including: obtaining a mixed body by performing molding using a mixture containing a magnesium-containing powder, a ceramic powder, and an inorganic or organic/inorganic binder that is hardened when heated to 500° C. or lower; preparing a preform by calcining the mixed body at a temperature of 500° C. or lower; and causing an Al alloy or the like to infiltrate without pressurization into the obtained preform to produce the metal matrix composite containing aluminum and ceramic, and a method for preparing the preform.”

A coated component, along with methods of its formation, are provided. The coated component may include a ceramic matrix composite substrate comprising silicon carbide and having a surface, a bond coat on the surface of the substrate, and an environmental barrier coating on the bond coat. The bond coat includes a plurality of discrete particles dispersed within a matrix phase, with the matrix phase formed from mullite and defining 60% to 98% by volume of the bond coat. The plurality of discrete particles include an oxygen getter and has 50% of its volume or greater formed from particles having an average size of 10 μm to 100 μm.

A coated component, along with methods of its formation, are provided. The coated component may include a ceramic matrix composite substrate comprising silicon carbide and having a surface, a bond coat on the surface of the substrate, and an environmental barrier coating on the bond coat. The bond coat includes a plurality of discrete particles dispersed within a matrix phase, with the matrix phase formed from mullite and defining 60% to 98% by volume of the bond coat. The plurality of discrete particles include an oxygen getter and has 50% of its volume or greater formed from particles having an average size of 10 μm to 100 μm.

A coated component, along with methods of its formation, are provided. The coated component may include a ceramic matrix composite substrate comprising silicon carbide and having a surface, a bond coat on the surface of the substrate, and an environmental barrier coating on the bond coat. The bond coat includes a plurality of discrete particles dispersed within a matrix phase, with the matrix phase formed from mullite and defining 60% to 98% by volume of the bond coat. The plurality of discrete particles include an oxygen getter and has 50% of its volume or greater formed from particles having an average size of 10 μm to 100 μm.

Nuclear fuel structures and methods for fabricating are disclosed herein. The nuclear fuel structure includes a plurality of fibers arranged in the structure and a multilayer fuel region within at least one fiber of the plurality of fibers. The multilayer fuel region includes an inner layer region made of a nuclear fuel material, and an outer layer region encasing the nuclear fuel material. A plurality of discrete multilayer fuel regions may be formed over a core region along the at least one fiber, the plurality of discrete multilayer fuel regions having a respective inner layer region of nuclear fuel material and a respective outer layer region encasing the nuclear fuel material. The plurality of fibers may be wrapped around an inner rod or tube structure or inside an outer tube structure of the nuclear fuel structure, providing both structural support and the nuclear fuel material of the nuclear fuel structure.

Nuclear fuel structures and methods for fabricating are disclosed herein. The nuclear fuel structure includes a plurality of fibers arranged in the structure and a multilayer fuel region within at least one fiber of the plurality of fibers. The multilayer fuel region includes an inner layer region made of a nuclear fuel material, and an outer layer region encasing the nuclear fuel material. A plurality of discrete multilayer fuel regions may be formed over a core region along the at least one fiber, the plurality of discrete multilayer fuel regions having a respective inner layer region of nuclear fuel material and a respective outer layer region encasing the nuclear fuel material. The plurality of fibers may be wrapped around an inner rod or tube structure or inside an outer tube structure of the nuclear fuel structure, providing both structural support and the nuclear fuel material of the nuclear fuel structure.

An article comprises a body and a conformal protective layer on at least one surface of the body. The conformal protective layer is a plasma resistant rare earth oxide film having a thickness of less than 1000 μm, wherein the plasma resistant rare earth oxide film consists essentially of 40 mol % to less than 100 mol % of Y.sub.2O.sub.3, over 0 mol % to 60 mol % of ZrO.sub.2, and 0 mol % to 9 mol % of Al.sub.2O.sub.3.

An article comprises a body and a conformal protective layer on at least one surface of the body. The conformal protective layer is a plasma resistant rare earth oxide film having a thickness of less than 1000 μm, wherein the plasma resistant rare earth oxide film consists essentially of 40 mol % to less than 100 mol % of Y.sub.2O.sub.3, over 0 mol % to 60 mol % of ZrO.sub.2, and 0 mol % to 9 mol % of Al.sub.2O.sub.3.