The CMC material systems with SOA, performance use Nicalon To fiber and a silicon carbide, SiC, matrix made using CVD or preceramic polymers. The acceptance of these approaches have met a great deal of resistance due to the high cost of the raw materials and processing. Amercom/Synterials has recently been working on a unique approach to a low cost SiC/CMC material by attacking the problem on the matrix materials, preforming and matrix processing fronts. The new Arnercom/Synterials approach utilizes a fugitive material as a transfer agent to carry one of the matrix constituent elements to the other where it will react andform SiC, the desired matrix. Moderate temperature, ambient pressure and controlled atmosphere are all that is required to process the matrix material. Standard PMC lay up or filament winding processes can be used to produce the net shape reinforcement preform. This process useslow cost commercial materials and does not require expensive precursor chemicals, sophisticated low pressure processing apparatus or handling of corrosive and hazardous gases. The SynSiC matrix placement process and its raw materials offer potentially a very low cost path to a SiC matrix for CMC materials.
Benefits: Develop a low cost Silicon Carbide matrix for high temperature oxidizing environment structural ceramic gas turbine engine components.
