The present invention relates to a method of printing a composite material (1), for example polymeric, carbonaceous, siliconic or metallic comprising steps of: i) providing a plurality of bundles (2) of reinforcement fibres (4), wherein the reinforcement fibres (4) have a length in the range 3-50 mm and are in the number of about 1,000-100,000 in each bundle (2); ii) aligning the bundles (2) along a predetermined path (X, X′); iii) incorporating at least part of the bundles (2) into a matrix (6, 8), for example polymeric, carbonaceous, siliconic or metallic, preserving the alignment along said path (X, X′); iv) laying and solidifying at least one layer (8) of the matrix (6, 8) of step iii) to make the composite material (1).

The present invention relates to a method of printing a composite material (1), for example polymeric, carbonaceous, siliconic or metallic comprising steps of: i) providing a plurality of bundles (2) of reinforcement fibres (4), wherein the reinforcement fibres (4) have a length in the range 3-50 mm and are in the number of about 1,000-100,000 in each bundle (2); ii) aligning the bundles (2) along a predetermined path (X, X′); iii) incorporating at least part of the bundles (2) into a matrix (6, 8), for example polymeric, carbonaceous, siliconic or metallic, preserving the alignment along said path (X, X′); iv) laying and solidifying at least one layer (8) of the matrix (6, 8) of step iii) to make the composite material (1).

The present invention relates to a metal-halide composite, articles comprising a metal-halide composite and method of making and using same. The metal-halide matrix materials used in such composite have the desired properties of high thermal conductivity, resistance to thermal induced microstructural changes, and ease of use. As a result, they permit the fabrication of higher performance cryogenic magnets, motors, generators, and cables. Additionally, they permit the fabrication of plate reinforced composites that are useful in lightweight armor and other articles. Additionally, an optoelectronic composite could be built depending on the choice of metal-halide matrix and reinforcement.

The present invention relates to a metal-halide composite, articles comprising a metal-halide composite and method of making and using same. The metal-halide matrix materials used in such composite have the desired properties of high thermal conductivity, resistance to thermal induced microstructural changes, and ease of use. As a result, they permit the fabrication of higher performance cryogenic magnets, motors, generators, and cables. Additionally, they permit the fabrication of plate reinforced composites that are useful in lightweight armor and other articles. Additionally, an optoelectronic composite could be built depending on the choice of metal-halide matrix and reinforcement.

The disclosure describes techniques for infiltrating a porous preform with a slurry to form an infiltrated-preform, where the slurry includes a plurality of solid particles, where the plurality of solid particles include a plurality of fine ceramic particles defining an average fine particle diameter, a plurality of coarse ceramic particles defining an average coarse particle diameter, and a plurality of diamond particles, where the average fine particle diameter is less than the average coarse particle diameter, and infiltrating the infiltrated-preform with a molten metal infiltrant to form a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article.

The disclosure describes techniques for infiltrating a porous preform with a slurry to form an infiltrated-preform, where the slurry includes a plurality of solid particles, where the plurality of solid particles include a plurality of fine ceramic particles defining an average fine particle diameter, a plurality of coarse ceramic particles defining an average coarse particle diameter, and a plurality of diamond particles, where the average fine particle diameter is less than the average coarse particle diameter, and infiltrating the infiltrated-preform with a molten metal infiltrant to form a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article.

A method of making a ceramic matrix composite that exhibits moisture and environmental resistance has been developed. The method includes depositing a diffusion barrier layer comprising boron nitride on silicon carbide fibers and depositing a moisture-tolerant layer comprising silicon-doped boron nitride on the diffusion barrier layer, where a thickness of the moisture-tolerant layer is from about 3 to about 300 times a thickness of the diffusion barrier layer. Thus, a compliant multilayer including the moisture-tolerant layer and the diffusion barrier layer is formed. A wetting layer comprising silicon carbide, boron carbide, and/or pyrolytic carbon is deposited on the compliant multilayer layer. After depositing the wetting layer, a fiber preform comprising the silicon carbide fibers is infiltrated with a slurry. After slurry infiltration, the fiber preform is infiltrated with a melt comprising silicon and then the melt is cooled, thereby forming a ceramic matrix composite.

A method of making a ceramic matrix composite that exhibits moisture and environmental resistance has been developed. The method includes depositing a diffusion barrier layer comprising boron nitride on silicon carbide fibers and depositing a moisture-tolerant layer comprising silicon-doped boron nitride on the diffusion barrier layer, where a thickness of the moisture-tolerant layer is from about 3 to about 300 times a thickness of the diffusion barrier layer. Thus, a compliant multilayer including the moisture-tolerant layer and the diffusion barrier layer is formed. A wetting layer comprising silicon carbide, boron carbide, and/or pyrolytic carbon is deposited on the compliant multilayer layer. After depositing the wetting layer, a fiber preform comprising the silicon carbide fibers is infiltrated with a slurry. After slurry infiltration, the fiber preform is infiltrated with a melt comprising silicon and then the melt is cooled, thereby forming a ceramic matrix composite.

A method is provided in which a resin coating is applied to a surface of a preform. The resin coating includes a carbonaceous resin and a particulate. The preform is added to a tooling. The preform, which is positioned in the tooling, is cured. The tooling is removed. The resin coating on the surface of the preform is pyrolyzed to form a resin carbon-char layer on the surface of the preform. The preform and the resin carbon-char layer are infiltrated with silicon to form a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component including a layer of silicon carbide. During the infiltration, the silicon reacts with carbon in the resin carbon-char layer to form the layer of silicon carbide on the preform.

A method is provided in which a resin coating is applied to a surface of a preform. The resin coating includes a carbonaceous resin and a particulate. The preform is added to a tooling. The preform, which is positioned in the tooling, is cured. The tooling is removed. The resin coating on the surface of the preform is pyrolyzed to form a resin carbon-char layer on the surface of the preform. The preform and the resin carbon-char layer are infiltrated with silicon to form a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component including a layer of silicon carbide. During the infiltration, the silicon reacts with carbon in the resin carbon-char layer to form the layer of silicon carbide on the preform.