Matrix basalt reinforcing member constructed and arrange to provide lateral support for the longitudinal bar steel or FRP tendons that provide tensile strength to cementitious material or plastics to reduce bending moment by reducing the onset of shear. The reinforcement members are formed from basalt fibers treated with a thermoplastic thermoset polymer and formed into structures to provide structural resistance to bending-moment forces, compression forces, and torsional forces acting on the structure.

Matrix basalt reinforcing member constructed and arrange to provide lateral support for the longitudinal bar steel or FRP tendons that provide tensile strength to cementitious material or plastics to reduce bending moment by reducing the onset of shear. The reinforcement members are formed from basalt fibers treated with a thermoplastic thermoset polymer and formed into structures to provide structural resistance to bending-moment forces, compression forces, and torsional forces acting on the structure.

A method for forming insulated concrete wall panels includes the step of positioning a stud wall frame in a casting bed, positioning a support panel formed from a single, monolithic section of foam insulating material on the wall frame with grooves formed in a first face therein on the stud wall frame with the grooves facing away from the wall frame and then pouring concrete in the casting bed over and around the first face of the support panel to form a layer of concrete with portions of the concrete extending into the grooves in the support panel. The concrete is allowed to cure and the wall structure is then removed from the casting bed.

A process for producing CMC articles that includes reducing the presence of porosity and voids within the articles. The process is performed on a porous fired preform comprising a fiber reinforcement material and a ceramic matrix material, and the preform is densified by heating the preform and a fill material to melt the fill material, and by creating a vacuum that causes the molten fill material to infiltrate and partially fill voids within the preform. While the fill material remains molten within the voids, the preform and fill material are subjected to an increased pressure to further fill the voids with the molten fill material. Thereafter, and while the preform and molten fill material therein remain subject to the increased pressure, the preform and fill material are cooled to solidify the fill material within the voids and yield a CMC article.

A process for producing CMC articles that includes reducing the presence of porosity and voids within the articles. The process is performed on a porous fired preform comprising a fiber reinforcement material and a ceramic matrix material, and the preform is densified by heating the preform and a fill material to melt the fill material, and by creating a vacuum that causes the molten fill material to infiltrate and partially fill voids within the preform. While the fill material remains molten within the voids, the preform and fill material are subjected to an increased pressure to further fill the voids with the molten fill material. Thereafter, and while the preform and molten fill material therein remain subject to the increased pressure, the preform and fill material are cooled to solidify the fill material within the voids and yield a CMC article.

A preform tooling arrangement includes a base plate comprising a male die surface and a stripper plate comprising a female die surface. A plurality of perforations are disposed in the base plate and/or the stripper plate. The stripper plate is moveable with respect to the base plate. The preform tooling arrangement is configured to receive a fibrous preform between the male die surface and the female die surface. The preform tooling arrangement is a dual-purpose fixture configured to accommodate z-needling and densification, all while the fibrous preform remains in the same fixture (i.e., the preform tooling arrangement). The perforations are configured to receive one or more textile needles for through thickness reinforcement of the fibrous preform.

A preform tooling arrangement includes a base plate comprising a male die surface and a stripper plate comprising a female die surface. A plurality of perforations are disposed in the base plate and/or the stripper plate. The stripper plate is moveable with respect to the base plate. The preform tooling arrangement is configured to receive a fibrous preform between the male die surface and the female die surface. The preform tooling arrangement is a dual-purpose fixture configured to accommodate z-needling and densification, all while the fibrous preform remains in the same fixture (i.e., the preform tooling arrangement). The perforations are configured to receive one or more textile needles for through thickness reinforcement of the fibrous preform.

A preform tooling arrangement includes a base plate comprising a male die surface and a stripper plate comprising a female die surface. A plurality of perforations are disposed in the base plate and/or the stripper plate. The stripper plate is moveable with respect to the base plate. The preform tooling arrangement is configured to receive a fibrous preform between the male die surface and the female die surface. The preform tooling arrangement is a dual-purpose fixture configured to accommodate z-needling and densification, all while the fibrous preform remains in the same fixture (i.e., the preform tooling arrangement). The perforations are configured to receive one or more textile needles for through thickness reinforcement of the fibrous preform.

A preform tooling arrangement includes a base plate comprising a male die surface and a stripper plate comprising a female die surface. A plurality of perforations are disposed in the base plate and/or the stripper plate. The stripper plate is moveable with respect to the base plate. The preform tooling arrangement is configured to receive a fibrous preform between the male die surface and the female die surface. The preform tooling arrangement is a dual-purpose fixture configured to accommodate z-needling and densification, all while the fibrous preform remains in the same fixture (i.e., the preform tooling arrangement). The perforations are configured to receive one or more textile needles for through thickness reinforcement of the fibrous preform.