Methods for preparing ceramic matrix composites using melt infiltration and chemical vapor infiltration are provided as well as the resulting ceramic matrix composites. The methods and products include the incorporation of sacrificial fibers to provide improved infiltration of the fluid infiltrant. The sacrificial fibers are removed, such as decomposed during pyrolysis, resulting in the formation of regular and elongate channels throughout the ceramic matrix composite. Infiltration of the fluid infiltrant can then take place using the elongate channels resulting in improved density and an improved ceramic matrix composite product.

A part made of composite material includes fiber reinforcement including silicon carbide fibers presenting an oxygen content less than or equal to 1% in atomic percentage; and a matrix present in the pores of the fiber reinforcement and including at least one sintered silicate phase including at least one rare earth silicate, mullite, or a mixture of mullite and of at least one rare earth silicate, the matrix including at least a first phase including mullite and a second phase, different from the first phase, including at least one rare earth silicate.

The invention concerns a method for surface treatment of a ceramic material in powder form, wherein said method comprising the step of providing a powder formed of a plurality of particles of the ceramic material to be treated, and wherein said ceramic powder particles are subjected to an ion implantation process by directing towards an external surface of said particles a beam of singly or multiply charged ions produced by a charge of singly or multiply charged ions, for example of the electron cyclotron resonance ECR type, wherein said particles have a generally polyhedral shape.

The invention also concerns a material in powder form, formed of a plurality of particles having a ceramic external layer and a ceramic core, wherein said particles have a generally polyhedral shape.

A tow coating reactor system includes a reactor for receiving fiber tow, a wedge situated adjacent the reactor and configured to receive the tow at a tip end, such that as the tow moves across the wedge, the wedge spreads the tow into a plurality of sub-tows.

The disclosure describes vacuum processing of a fiber tow. In some examples, the disclosure describes generating a metal carbide fiber tow by applying metal to a carbon fiber tow and vacuum processing the carbon fiber tow to convert at least a portion of the carbon fiber tow to a metal carbide fiber tow.

A fiber reinforced composite component may include interleaved textile layers and ceramic particle layers coated with matrix material. The fiber reinforced composite component may be fabricated by forming a fibrous preform and densifying the fibrous preform. The fibrous preform may be fabricated by forming a first ceramic particle layer over a first textile layer, disposing a second textile layer over the first ceramic particle layer, forming a second ceramic particle layer over the second textile layer, and disposing a third textile layer over the second ceramic particle layer.

The invention relates to an improved method for producing silica aerogel in pure and flexible sheet form having effective suppression of radiative heat transport at high temperatures and increased thermal insulation property. The suppression of radiative heat transport was achieved by in-situ production of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in very minor concentrations during gelation of silica precursor, with nanoporous surface area more than 300 m2/g and acts as an infra red reflecting agent. When aerogel is subjected to heat during hot object insulation, it automatically turn into infra red reflecting material. Said silica aerogel can be incorporated into the inorganic fibre mat matrix individually or into two or more layers with organic sponge sheet placed in between and stitched together to form a sandwich sheet to form highly insulating flexible sheet.

Methods for preparing ceramic matrix composites using melt infiltration and chemical vapor infiltration are provided as well as the resulting ceramic matrix composites. The methods and products include the incorporation of sacrificial fibers to provide improved infiltration of the fluid infiltrant. The sacrificial fibers are removed, such as decomposed during pyrolysis, resulting in the formation of regular and elongate channels throughout the ceramic matrix composite. Infiltration of the fluid infiltrant can then take place using the elongate channels resulting in improved density and an improved ceramic matrix composite product.

An abradable coating includes a tubular cell structure, wherein the the tubular cell structure includes a fibrous reinforcement of discontinuous short fibers which is densified by a ceramic matrix.

A fiber comprises a bulk material comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, boron, silicon carbide, and boron nitride; and a metal whose affinity for oxygen is greater than the affinity for oxygen of any of the one or more materials. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium. At least a first portion of the metal may be present in un-oxidized form at the entrance to and/or within grain boundaries within the fiber.

A method of improving at least one of the strength, creep resistance, and toughness of a fiber comprises adding to a fiber, initially comprising a bulk material having a first affinity for oxygen, a metal that has a second affinity for oxygen higher than the first affinity. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium.