Abstract:
The present invention relates to preceramic polymer grafted nanoparticles and as well as methods of making and using same. Advantages of such preceramic polymer grafted nanoparticles include, reduced out gassing, desired morphology control and desirable, distinct rheological properties that are not found in simple mixtures. As a result, Applicants' preceramic polymer grafted nanoparticles can be used to provide significantly improved, items including but not limited to hypersonic vehicles, jets, rockets, mirrors, signal apertures, furnaces, glow plugs, brakes, and armor.
Abstract:
Ceramic composite materials that are reinforced with carbide fibers can exhibit ultra-high temperature resistance. For example, such materials may exhibit very low creep at temperatures of up to 2700° F. (1480° C.). The present composites are specifically engineered to exhibit matched thermodynamically stable crystalline phases between the materials included within the composite. In other words, the reinforcing fibers, a debonding interface layer disposed over the reinforcing fibers, and the matrix material of the composite may all be of the same crystalline structural phase (all hexagonal), for increased compatibility and improved properties. Such composite materials may be used in numerous applications.
Abstract:
A method for producing solidified fiber bundles includes applying a melt or solution to a carrier web forming a viscous coating, applying parallel filaments under tension to the carrier web, and pressing the filaments into the viscous coating, forming an impregnate. The coating is partially solidified until a plastically deformable state of the impregnate is obtained by vaporizing the solvent, thermal curing and/or cooling. The impregnate is rolled onto a winding core to form a roll while maintaining a winding tension of the filaments in the impregnate. The outer roll is fixed on the winding core by a sleeve and/or by adhesive tape. The impregnate is solidified by vaporizing the solvent, thermal curing and/or cooling. The solidified impregnate is divided up to form solidified fiber bundles. A pressure produced by the winding tension of the filaments in the impregnate is exerted on the roll.
Abstract:
A layer by layer additive manufacturing system from liquid polymers for producing dense and defect free polymer-derived ceramic bodies of a three dimensional architecture.
Abstract:
This disclosure enables direct 3D printing of preceramic polymers, which can be converted to fully dense ceramics. Some variations provide a preceramic resin formulation comprising a molecule with two or more C═X double bonds or C≡X triple bonds, wherein X is selected from C, S, N, or O, and wherein the molecule further comprises at least one non-carbon atom selected from Si, B, Al, Ti, Zn, P, Ge, S, N, or O; a photoinitiator; a free-radical inhibitor; and a 3D-printing resolution agent. The disclosed preceramic resin formulations can be 3D-printed using stereolithography into objects with complex shape. The polymeric objects may be directly converted to fully dense ceramics with properties that approach the theoretical maximum strength of the base materials. Low-cost structures are obtained that are lightweight, strong, and stiff, but stable in the presence of a high-temperature oxidizing environment.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and processes are used to prepare novel ceramic composite structures that are strong, durable, light-weight, high performance and suitable for a myriad of industrial applications, including, but not limited to, ceramic plates of material suitable for use as ballistic armor. The low manufacturing costs of the processes disclosed provide cheaper, faster ways of producing ceramic matrix composites at lower temperatures and allow for the existence of composite materials and structures which currently are not available.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a ceramic material includes impregnating a porous structure with a mixture that includes a preceramic polymer and a filler. The filler includes at least one free metal. The preceramic polymer material is then rigidized to form a green body. The green body is then thermally treated to convert the rigidized preceramic polymer material into a ceramic matrix located within pores of the porous structure. The same thermal treatment or a second, further thermal treatment is used to cause the at least one free metal to move to internal porosity defined by the ceramic matrix or pores of the porous structure.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a metal-ceramic composite article includes a) depositing at least one layer of a powdered material onto a target surface, where the powdered material includes at least one metal and an energy-beam responsive ceramic precursor, and b) densifying the at least one metal and chemically converting at least a portion of the energy-beam responsive ceramic precursor to a ceramic material to form a densified layer by directing an energy-beam onto the at least one layer.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for producing architectural preforms and high-temperature composite structures containing high-strength ceramic fibers with reduced preforming stresses within each fiber, with an in-situ grown coating on each fiber surface, with reduced boron within the bulk of each fiber, and with improved tensile creep and rupture resistance properties tier each fiber. The methods include the steps of preparing an original sample of a preform formed from a pre-selected high-strength silicon carbide ceramic fiber type, placing the original sample in a processing furnace under a pre-selected preforming stress state and thermally treating the sample in the processing furnace at a pre-selected processing temperature and hold time in a processing gas having a pre-selected composition, pressure, and flow rate. For the high-temperature composite structures, the method includes additional steps of depositing a thin interphase coating on the surface of each fiber and forming a ceramic or carbon-based matrix within the sample.
Abstract:
A method for producing solidified fiber bundles includes applying a melt or solution to a carrier web forming a viscous coating, applying parallel filaments under tension to the carrier web, and pressing the filaments into the viscous coating, forming an impregnate. The coating is partially solidified until a plastically deformable state of the impregnate is obtained by vaporizing the solvent, thermal curing and/or cooling. The impregnate is rolled onto a winding core to form a roll while maintaining a winding tension of the filaments in the impregnate. The outer roll is fixed on the winding core by a sleeve and/or by adhesive tape. The impregnate is solidified by vaporizing the solvent, thermal curing and/or cooling. The solidified impregnate is divided up to form solidified fiber bundles. A pressure produced by the winding tension of the filaments in the impregnate is exerted on the roll.