The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt% SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt% CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt% MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %,

The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

A method for forming an ultra-high temperature (UHT) composite structure includes dispensing a first polymeric precursor with a spinneret; forming a first plurality of nanofibers from the first polymeric precursor; depositing the first plurality of nanofibers with a collector; and applying a fluid, with a nozzle, onto the first plurality of nanofibers disposed on the collector. The fluid includes a second polymeric precursor.

A method for predicting a creep fracture behavior of a woven ceramic matrix composite is provided. A fiber axial stress distribution equation is obtained according to a shear lag model, a random matrix cracking model, a fracture mechanical interface debonding criterion and a fiber failure model; a matrix crack spacing equation is obtained according to the random matrix cracking model; an interface debonding length equation is obtained according to the fracture mechanics interface debonding criterion, and an equation of the load bearing relationship between intact fibers and broken fibers and a fiber fracture probability equation are obtained based on an overall load bearing criterion; and at last a creep strain equation of the woven ceramic matrix composite material is obtained, according to the overall load bearing criterion, to predict the creep fracture behavior of the woven ceramic matrix composite material affected by the random load.

Systems and methods for creating coating a substrate with nanofiber comprise a dual polarity high voltage power supply, a first wire for wire electrospinning held at positive potential by the power supply, a second wire held at negative potential by the power supply and a spooling system for drawing a substrate between the first wire and the second wire. A slider and a solution chamber in fluidic connection with the slider are used to slide along the first wire delivering solution to the wire.

Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing nanofibers. In some instances, the nanofibers are metal and/or ceramic nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.

A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) is formed using a three-dimensional (3-D) woven preform by removing the set of sacrificial fibers from the 3-D woven preform and allowing a metal or metal alloy infiltrate the 3-D woven preform. The 3-D woven preform is formed by a method that includes providing a woven layer comprising a first set of ceramic fibers oriented in a first (x) direction woven with a second set of ceramic fibers oriented in a second (y) direction; stacking a plurality of woven layers on top of each other, said woven layers providing a two-dimensional (2-D) preform; weaving a set of sacrificial fibers in a third (z) direction with the 2-D preform, said weaving providing the 3-D woven preform; and shaping the 3-D woven preform into a predetermined shape.

A method of forming a protective shield to protect an aircraft component from EMI or energy bursts includes the steps of combining a carbon-based or silicon-based preceramic polymer precursor and a metallic precursor to form a dope, processing the dope to provide a deposit that includes nano-structures, post-processing the deposit to provide a nano-structure material with a uniformly distributed base metal or metal compound, and forming a protective shield using the nano-structure material.

The present disclosure provides an anisotropic lamellar inorganic fiber aerogel material and a preparation method thereof. The method includes: mixing a polymer solution, an inorganic precursor and a chloride to obtain a spinning precursor solution; blow spinning the spinning precursor solution to obtain a composite fiber aerogel; calcinating the composite fiber aerogel to obtain the anisotropic lamellar inorganic fiber aerogel material. Therefore, the method has advantages of simplicity, easy operation, low cost, high efficiency and easy industrialized production. The inorganic fiber aerogel materials prepared by the above method are composed of multi-layer stacked fibers and have an anisotropic lamellar structure, which can be cut into any desired shape, and stacked to any desired thickness. In addition, the inorganic fiber aerogel materials have good flexibility and compressibility, excellent fire resistance, good high and low temperature resistance and superior thermal insulation, which greatly expands their application field.

A method for forming an ultra-high temperature (UHT) composite structure includes dispensing a first polymeric precursor with a spinneret; forming a first plurality of nanofibers from the first polymeric precursor; depositing the first plurality of nanofibers with a collector; and applying a fluid, with a nozzle, onto the first plurality of nanofibers disposed on the collector. The fluid includes a second polymeric precursor.

Brake disks with integrated heat sink are provided. Brake disk includes a fiber-reinforced composite material and an encapsulated heat sink material impregnated into the fiber-reinforced composite material. The encapsulated heat sink material comprises a heat sink material encapsulated within a silicon-containing encapsulation layer. Methods for manufacturing the brake disk with integrated heat sink and methods for producing the encapsulated heat sink material are also provided.