The present application discloses and claims a method to make a flexible ceramic fibers (Flexiramics™) and polymer composites. The resulting composite has an improved mechanical strength (tensile) when compared with the Flexiramics™ alone. Several different polymers can be used, both thermosets and thermoplastics. Flexiramics™ has unique physical characteristics and the composite materials can be used for numerous industrial and laboratory applications.

The disclosure related to a method for making a nanowire structure. First, a free-standing carbon nanotube structure is suspended. Second, a metal layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube structure. The metal layer is oxidized to grow metal oxide nanowires.

Disclosed is a honeycomb support structure comprising a honeycomb body and an outer layer or skin formed of a cement that includes an inorganic filler material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion from 25° C. to 600° C. and a crystalline inorganic fibrous material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion from 25° C. to 600° C.

The present invention provides a novel silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide composite material, which is a composite material of SiC fibers and SiC ceramics with improved toughness, that can be produced with high yield by a relatively simple production step without complex production steps such as a step of oxidation-resistant coating or an advanced interface control step.

The silicon carbide fiber reinforced silicon carbide composite material comprising a multiphase matrix containing a silicon carbide phase and a phase comprising a substance having low reactivity with respect to silicon carbide; and silicon carbide fibers disposed in the matrix can be obtained by a production step suitable for mass production. The composite material ensures greatly improved fracture toughness while maintaining the excellent properties of SiC ceramics.

Disclosed herein is a composite comprising a ceramic matrix composite comprising a ceramic matrix and ceramic fibers; and one or more sacrificial fibers woven into the ceramic matrix composite; where the sacrificial fibers are operative to undergo oxidation or melting upon being subjected to an elevated temperature; and wherein the sacrificial fibers leave cooling holes in the composite preform upon being subjected to oxidation or melting.

A heat-insulating protective member for skid posts contains a needled blanket of inorganic fibers. At least some of the needled blanket has, disposed therein, an impregnation part where an oxide-precursor-containing liquid is adherent in an undried state. The impregnation part has a water content of 50-400 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fibers of the impregnation part. The water content of the heat-insulating protective member is 50-400 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fibers of the heat-insulating protective member. The oxide-precursor-containing liquid contains ingredients that, upon burning, yield a composition containing Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and CaO. The oxide-precursor-containing liquid is adherent in an amount of 2-50 parts by mass in terms of oxide amount per 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fibers of the impregnation part. A molar ratio of Al/Ca, in the whole impregnation part is 10-330.

The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC). The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers and defining a plurality of voids. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element, such as a metal, disposed within the voids of the preform. The MMC has a wear surface defined by both the preform and the support element.

A method of producing, from a continuous or discontinuous (e.g., chopped) carbon fiber, partially to fully converted metal carbide fibers. The method comprises reacting a carbon fiber material with at least one of a metal or metal oxide source material at a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the metal or metal oxide source material (e.g., where practical, at a temperature greater than the vaporization temperature of the metal or metal oxide source material). Additional methods, various forms of carbon fiber, metal carbide fibers, and articles including the metal carbide fibers are also disclosed.

A method of sensing strain in a structural component, the method comprising the steps of providing, embedded within said structural component, at least one carbon fibre element (10) coated with an electrically conductive material (12), measuring the electrical resistance of said coated carbon fibre element and determining strain in respect of said carbon fibre element based on changes in said electrical resistance thereof. A method of manufacturing a carbon fibre element, a carbon fibre element so manufactured, and a carbon fibre reinforced structural component including such a carbon fibre element are also disclosed.

Methods are described to make strong, tough, and lightweight whisker-reinforced glass-ceramic composites through a self-toughening structure generated by viscous reaction sintering of a complex mixture of oxides. The invention further relates to strong, tough, and lightweight glass-ceramic composites that can be used as proppants and for other uses.