LOW-TEMPERATURE PROCESSING OF CERAMIC WOVEN FABRIC CERAMIC-MATRIX COMPOSITES

Two-dimensional Al2O3 and SiC woven laminate composites, and oxide and nonoxide monolithic ceramics with 5 to 10 wt% of polycarbosilane binder, were consolidated up to 75% of TD (theoretical density) at 1150-degrees-C by the multiple impregnations of a polycarbosilane solution. The processing conditions were optimized without causing fiber damage. The near-net-shape composite fabricated by this process showed high reproducibility in terms of relative density and flexural strength. The mechanical properties were characterized by flexural testing with strain gauges. All of the woven laminate composites exhibited good composite-type fracture behavior, e.g., load-carrying capacity following maximum load. The room-temperature flexural strength and first-matrix cracking stress of SiC fabric/SiC composite with 73% TD were about 300 and 77 MPa, respectively.